A350-900

Kuwait’s flag carrier Kuwait Airways is close to place a firm order with Airbus for the purchase of 25 aircraft, which includes ten wide-body A350-900 jetliners and 15 A320neo, worth an estimated KWD850m ($2.98bn).

The airline also plans to lease further 13 A330 and A320 aeroplanes for six years to replace its ageing fleet of A300s, A310s and A320s by the end of this year, reports Kuwait-based newspaper Daily Al-Watan.

The first leased aircraft is expected to be received by Kuwait Airways in June or July.

Reports from the news agency stated that sources confirmed that the deal, which is expected to be signed as early as this month, will be a contract comprising both the leased and purchased airliners.

Kuwait Airways is expected to receive the new airliners from the firm order in 2019.

Airbus’ rival Boeing had also made a bid for the deal but the carrier chose Airbus as the cost was lower, the sources said.

"Kuwait Airways is expected to receive the new airliners from the firm order in 2019."

Currently, Kuwait Airways’ fleet of 17 aeroplanes mainly comprises Airbus jetliners, with two Boeing 777s.

As of April, Airbus logged about 616 firm orders for the A350 series, with 414 for the A350-900 model, 92 for the A350-800, and 110 for the larger A350-1000.

The A350 series aircraft is scheduled to enter service before the end of 2014.

The A320neo will be powered by new engines on Airbus’s A320 single-aisle series and it has received 2,125 firm orders from 40 customers worldwide since Airbus started offering the airliner in December 2011.

Image: Kuwait Airways is expected to place order with Airbus for 25 aircraft, which includes ten A350-900 jetliners and 15 A320neo. Photo: courtesy of Fixion / Airbus SAS.

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