Wataniya Airways announces leasing deal for another new A320 aircraft

Wataniya Airways Chairman and Managing Director Mr. Abdul Salam Al Bahar said:

"This strengthening of the Wataniya Airways fleet is a clear commitment by the airline to increase the scope of our services and improve and enhance the number of flights we can offer to a growing number of regional destinations."

"Our efforts are geared towards making Wataniya Airways the airline of choice for the discerning Kuwaiti traveller," he added.

ILFC is one of the world's largest aircraft leasing and financing companies and had contacted Wataniya Airways to offer the additional aircraft under an eight-year lease arrangement.

As with the first three A320 aircraft that Wataniya Airways have commissioned, the new planes will be configured with the lowest seat density of any A320 used on scheduled routes in the world. Each aircraft will feature 122 seats, compared with the 145 that a number of leading European airlines use on their A320s, ensuring excellent leg room and comfort throughout its first-class and premium-economy seats.

George Cooper, Wataniya Airways Chief Executive Officer, said:

"This is an important step in our long term intention to steadily build the size of our fleet and enable us to expand and extend our route network. This delivery will now mean that we will have 3 aircraft available for the key summer peak of demand next year."

"The phenomenal growth of this region's aviation industry is as a result of booming economic conditions and we are very pleased to be ramping up our planned operations so quickly. Hence the opportunity presented by this long-term leasing deal with ILFC came along at an ideal moment," Cooper added.

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, Chairman and CEO of ILFC, stated:

"We are very pleased to begin a relationship with Wataniya Airways and help the new airline develop a successful enterprise in one of the world's most dynamic and rapidly growing aviation markets. ILFC is already the largest lessor of commercial jet aircraft in the Middle East and Gulf region and Wataniya Airways is a welcome addition to our client base of 200 airlines worldwide."

Wataniya Airways will commence services from January 2009 and will offer a point to point service from Kuwait to destinations south and west of the country in the Gulf and Middle East- providing flight schedules and destinations that focus on Kuwaiti needs.