Kuwait Airways confirms decision to opt for Boeing 777-300ERs

Kuwait Airways has confirmed it is buying ten Boeing 777-300ERs with a list value of $3.3 billion.
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 The preliminary agreement means the state-owned flag carrier with a nearly all-Airbus fleet is greatly expanding its ties with Boeing.
“We appreciate the start of a new partnership with Kuwait Airways,” said Marty Bentrott, Boeing’s vice-president of sales for Middle East, Russia and Central Asia.
Industry analyst Saj Ahmad said the decision has been “long awaited.”
“The challenge remains for Kuwait Airways to emulate the success of its regional peers,” Ahmad said. “ Kuwait Airways has dithered for years about replacing its fleet, and while the 2016 deliveries of the 777-300ER will help them phase out some of their old gas-guzzling A300-600Rs, A310s and A340s, the airline will have to studiously work out how to revamp its lacklustre cabin offerings, while slashing costs and trying to increase revenue through a greater expansion effort of its current 34-city destination network.”
The airline has been looking at an IPO, and making itself more attractive to investors is key, Ahmad said. “It's a long haul for Kuwait Airways to revamp itself, but there's no reason why the state-backed carrier cannot at least turn itself into a small, but profitable GCC airline.”
According to Flightglobal data, Kuwait already operates two 777-200ERs and one 747-400 Combi, but primarily flies Airbus aircraft. Its in-service widebody fleet includes five A300-600Rs, three A310-300s and four A340-300s, with 10 A350-900s still on order.