1279shp
1st Jun 2005, 21:06
>>Hmm, I know where they can get some A320's!<<
Kuwait's first no-frills airline, Jazeera Airways, said on Wednesday it has signed a USD$150 million deal with three banks to help finance the purchase of four Airbus A320 aircraft before operations start in October.
The deal was signed with German transportation specialists DVB Bank, France's Natexis Banques Populaires and Kuwait Finance House.
"There are three elements to the loan. It will cover 70 percent of the pre-delivery payment financing, 80 percent of the four aircraft purchase value and 80 percent value of one spare engine," Jazeera Airways vice president for finance, Iain May, said.
He said the first flight was scheduled for October 28, 2005. The airline had earlier said it planned to start operations in February.
"We have committed with Airbus for four aircraft, each with a capacity for 165 seats. One will be delivered in October and another in November. The other two aircraft will be delivered in June and July 2006, respectively," May added.
The private airline has capital of about 10 million dinars (USD$34 million), 70 percent of which was publicly subscribed and the rest provided by Kuwait-based Boodai Group as well as other private investors. Its low-budget services will include ticket prices 50 percent below regular market sales.
May said Jazeera Airways, which will also be the first local competitor to indebted state airline Kuwait Airways, has also taken options on four more Airbus planes.
The airline plans to provide low-cost regional flights to Dubai, Bahrain and Middle Eastern routes to Oman, Damascus, Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Jeddah.
Kuwait's first no-frills airline, Jazeera Airways, said on Wednesday it has signed a USD$150 million deal with three banks to help finance the purchase of four Airbus A320 aircraft before operations start in October.
The deal was signed with German transportation specialists DVB Bank, France's Natexis Banques Populaires and Kuwait Finance House.
"There are three elements to the loan. It will cover 70 percent of the pre-delivery payment financing, 80 percent of the four aircraft purchase value and 80 percent value of one spare engine," Jazeera Airways vice president for finance, Iain May, said.
He said the first flight was scheduled for October 28, 2005. The airline had earlier said it planned to start operations in February.
"We have committed with Airbus for four aircraft, each with a capacity for 165 seats. One will be delivered in October and another in November. The other two aircraft will be delivered in June and July 2006, respectively," May added.
The private airline has capital of about 10 million dinars (USD$34 million), 70 percent of which was publicly subscribed and the rest provided by Kuwait-based Boodai Group as well as other private investors. Its low-budget services will include ticket prices 50 percent below regular market sales.
May said Jazeera Airways, which will also be the first local competitor to indebted state airline Kuwait Airways, has also taken options on four more Airbus planes.
The airline plans to provide low-cost regional flights to Dubai, Bahrain and Middle Eastern routes to Oman, Damascus, Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Jeddah.