Kuwait Airways Dumped B747-200s

[Paladini]

Extracted from 21 Mar 02 "ARAB NEWS".. .. .Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) signed a contract Wednesday with Alafco company to sell two Boeing 747 planes owned by KAC.. .A press statement issued by KAC said the agreement is the beginning of a fruitful cooperation in renting, buying and selling planes.. .The contract was signed by the Director-General of KAC, Sheikh Talal Mubarak Al-Sabah, and the Chairman and Managing Director of Alafco, Ahmed Al-Zabin.. .. .Apparently, the Jurassic crews have not yet been told officially, rumour also has it that termination letters are pending sometime this week.... .. .Any confirmation of this travesty?

[Tarek Nor]

Paladini could you send me an email pls.

[ijp]

Nobody knows anything yet. Crews will probably be offered 320 F/O slots if true.. .Sad, some of the best years of my life were on the old ladies.

[Rabbit]

In deference to the above I understand the pilots have been offered positions on the A300. I believe some have and some have rejected the offer.. .. .By the way it is interesting you mention Zabin as being the rep from ALAFCO. He is also the GM of KAC??? Me thinks........?. .. .The aircraft are very good but they have a big downfall - the engines.. Wrong ones .. low power.. .. .G'day ijp. .. .Have a nice day

[ijp]

Rabbit,. .. .You are close to the situation, but a F/O told me last night that only a Capt named J.C., one of the south pacific boys, was offered the 300, but he knocked it back.. .. .They could have made money with those planes, but I don't need to tell you the problem. . .Hey, I beat it by 6 months.. . . . <small>[ 28 March 2002, 14:48: Message edited by: ijp ]</small>

[Paladini]

latest on the subject is, yes J.C. might knock the A300 back... Apparently the sale has fallen through, but at least 2 F/Os have been unceremoniously sacked.

Possible contracts in S. Pacific could shore up the old girls but the new DDOps is pretty nervous and is still trying to kill the fleet. Guess he'll be recruiting if the big boss takes the contract, can't see the sacked boys going back to a company that would treat them that way. Apparently, all of the expat Jurassic drivers are seriously hacked off with the chief pilot 747. Voting with their feet....sad, he'll win by default.

tarek...couldn't email you...revise your profile to allow emails

as for other guys getting A320 etc, don't hold your breath, if the jets are sold, the remaining F/Os' will have to hit the street. Their only hope for retention is a new contract.

[ijp]

Things very shaky at Kuwait Airways. DO exiled in Paris. 747 Chief Pilot now acting DO, however many back stabbers standing in the wings. (no pun intended) Air Pacific contract could bring new life to the 747s, If the cat goes away the mice will play, so the question becomes will he try for the contract and risk his new job, or stay to mind the ship.

[Anti Skid On]

Perhaps slightly off topic, but where are Air Pacific getting the business? Do they have enough passengers in and out of Nadi to justify another 742? Can't see them needing the capacity to LAX, AKL or SYD. Also if the 742 comes in will their 738 go bye byes (admittedly it was for a while working for QF)