moredrag
6th Jan 2011, 11:51
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NjAwNTk5MzA5 (http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NjAwNTk5MzA5)
KAC, EU officials deny 'ban' report
Published Date: January 06, 2011
By Wendy Clayton, Staff Writer
KUWAIT: The Director of Public Relations and Information at Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC), Adel Bouresly denied that the EU has placed a ban on the KAC fleet. The EU Commission supported KAC by concurring with its stance.
Speaking with the Kuwait Times in a telephone interview yesterday Bouresly said, "It is not true." When asked where such information could have originated from, Bouresly said that he had no idea. He agreed that such media reports could severely harm KAC especially now that its privatization is almost complete.
An Arabic newspaper reported on 31st of December that the EU had notified KAC that the airline would not be allowed to fly over EU airspace or even land in EU territories, as of March 2011 due to poor maintenance of the aircraft. The EU responded to such claims via email to the Kuwait Times confirming that they are not aware of any current plans to ban Kuwait Airways from the EU.
Such false claims could have a major impact on the airline as it enters the final stages of privatization. Additionally, with the EU being a hot spot for holiday destinations for many Kuwaitis, such claims have to be looked into by the EU nation embassies represented in Kuwait, experts argued.
One embassy spokesperson said, "If the report was true then it would have a huge impact on the visa issuance to EU destinations. Visa applicants approaching the embassy with a KAC ticket will not be granted a visa under any circumstances." The diplomat further went on to say that most of the visas issued were to Kuwaitis going on holiday to the EU. He also said it brings up the question as to where the Arabic daily received such information and if their sources were reliable.
The news report comes after an avalanche of criticism that Kuwait Airways has faced recently. On Friday Friday Times reported that, KAC announced its fleet of five Airbus aircraft. "The carrier did not specify what prompted the suspension, other that Airbus had asked the airline to conduct a check-up on its A300 planes after KAC "submitted notes" to the manufacturer. "The procedure has resulted in delaying some flights until the check-up is done and this type is back to flying," Bouresly was quoted in a pr
ess release as saying. The A300 is a short-to-medium-range wide-body jetliner. Boursely further was quoted as saying that KAC, which has a fleet of 17 aircraft could lease aircraft if the maintenance works were delayed.
Like earlier Kuwait Times reported, there have been a series of glitches for the airline that are tied to lack of new aircraft. Early 2007 saw the national carrier seeking offers to replace the already ageing fleet with 30-34 new aircraft. In an earlier interview with the Kuwait Times, Boursely said that everything was in place to proceed with ordering the new fleet until the parliament stepped in and stopped the process.
Parliament stopped the deal because it was decided that the Kuwait Airways would be privatized. Instead of the government paying for the new fleet, the new owner would," he said elaborating that the deal was frozen three years ago. Later reports indicated that the grounded aircraft have been back in operation.
KAC, EU officials deny 'ban' report
Published Date: January 06, 2011
By Wendy Clayton, Staff Writer
KUWAIT: The Director of Public Relations and Information at Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC), Adel Bouresly denied that the EU has placed a ban on the KAC fleet. The EU Commission supported KAC by concurring with its stance.
Speaking with the Kuwait Times in a telephone interview yesterday Bouresly said, "It is not true." When asked where such information could have originated from, Bouresly said that he had no idea. He agreed that such media reports could severely harm KAC especially now that its privatization is almost complete.
An Arabic newspaper reported on 31st of December that the EU had notified KAC that the airline would not be allowed to fly over EU airspace or even land in EU territories, as of March 2011 due to poor maintenance of the aircraft. The EU responded to such claims via email to the Kuwait Times confirming that they are not aware of any current plans to ban Kuwait Airways from the EU.
Such false claims could have a major impact on the airline as it enters the final stages of privatization. Additionally, with the EU being a hot spot for holiday destinations for many Kuwaitis, such claims have to be looked into by the EU nation embassies represented in Kuwait, experts argued.
One embassy spokesperson said, "If the report was true then it would have a huge impact on the visa issuance to EU destinations. Visa applicants approaching the embassy with a KAC ticket will not be granted a visa under any circumstances." The diplomat further went on to say that most of the visas issued were to Kuwaitis going on holiday to the EU. He also said it brings up the question as to where the Arabic daily received such information and if their sources were reliable.
The news report comes after an avalanche of criticism that Kuwait Airways has faced recently. On Friday Friday Times reported that, KAC announced its fleet of five Airbus aircraft. "The carrier did not specify what prompted the suspension, other that Airbus had asked the airline to conduct a check-up on its A300 planes after KAC "submitted notes" to the manufacturer. "The procedure has resulted in delaying some flights until the check-up is done and this type is back to flying," Bouresly was quoted in a pr
ess release as saying. The A300 is a short-to-medium-range wide-body jetliner. Boursely further was quoted as saying that KAC, which has a fleet of 17 aircraft could lease aircraft if the maintenance works were delayed.
Like earlier Kuwait Times reported, there have been a series of glitches for the airline that are tied to lack of new aircraft. Early 2007 saw the national carrier seeking offers to replace the already ageing fleet with 30-34 new aircraft. In an earlier interview with the Kuwait Times, Boursely said that everything was in place to proceed with ordering the new fleet until the parliament stepped in and stopped the process.
Parliament stopped the deal because it was decided that the Kuwait Airways would be privatized. Instead of the government paying for the new fleet, the new owner would," he said elaborating that the deal was frozen three years ago. Later reports indicated that the grounded aircraft have been back in operation.