Jazeera Airways has launched its first flight to London, in what it says makes it the first low fare airline in the Middle East to fly to the United Kingdom, as well as marking the first new service to the UK from Kuwait in 55 years.
The Kuwait-based low cost carrier, operated its flight with its newest A320neo aircraft, to London Gatwick Airport South Terminal.
“We are proud to mark our expansion in 2019 with flights to London, served with our new A320neo aircraft,” said Jazeera Airways chairman, Marwan Boodai. “London Gatwick will be served with four flights a week and frequency will increase to daily flights in December. We also continue to expand with flights to new underserved or never served destinations from the Middle East, including destinations in Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, KSA, UAE and more. On behalf of our airline, I take this opportunity to thank the DGCA and our partners in Kuwait and abroad for their continued support.”
Flights to and from London will have a business class offering passengers a 33-inch seat pitch, 50 kilograms in baggage allowance, priority boarding and a complimentary inflight hot meal.
Premium Economy Class, exclusively available on the London route, offers 40 kilograms in baggage allowance, additional legroom with a 31-inch seat pitch, a middle seat that is kept free, dedicated check-in counters, priority boarding and a complimentary inflight hot meal.
Meanwhile Economy Class offers a 29-inch seat pitch and a variety of meal options from the Jazeera Café menu.
At a press conference at Kuwait International Airport ahead of the launch, His Excellency Michael Davenport MBE, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the State of Kuwait commented: “We are proud of this new service made possible by the new Air Services Agreement signed last year between Britain and Kuwait. The launch coincides with our celebration to mark 120th anniversary of the Kuwaiti-British Treaty of Friendship.
Britain is the most popular travel destination for residents of Kuwait, he continued, commenting: “More Kuwaitis are studying at British universities than ever before. More than 6,000 at the last count. Many of them receive visits from their friends and families in Kuwait,” adding, “For many Kuwaitis, Britain’s cities are a second home – not only London, but Manchester, Cardiff, Milton Keynes, and Glasgow. Last year, we welcomed over 150,000 Kuwaiti in Britain.”
With its new A320neo aircraft, the airline said it can reach an increased range of destinations, located five to six hours away.
“We are pleased to take part of the launch of the first Jazeera Airways flight to UK. We believe in the role of the private sector in supporting the aviation sector. Flights to London is the first of six other destinations planned by Jazeera Airways, and support the DGCA’s vision to increase air traffic to and from Kuwait International Airport,” Engineer Yousef Sulaiman Al Fouzan, Director General of Kuwait’s Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) commented.
