Description

Kuwait Wataniya Airways (K.S.C.) (Arabic: (شركة الخطوط الوطنية الكويتية (ش.م.ك‎‎), doing business as Wataniya Airways (Arabic: الخطوط الوطنية‎‎), is a publicly traded company on the Kuwait Stock Exchange. Wataniya Airways' hub is the exclusive Sheikh Saad Terminal in Kuwait while its corporate headquarters were on the property of Kuwait International Airport, Al Farwaniyah Governorate, Kuwait.[1] The airline was founded in 2006 and received an Air Operators Certificate in July 2008. It started services with an Airbus A320 in January 2009 from the Sheikh Saad General Aviation Terminal and provided flights from Kuwait to destinations across the Persian Gulf, wider Middle East and Europe. Wataniya Airways was the first and only commercial airline to operate its flights out of a private terminal in Kuwait. Wataniya Airways' A320 aircraft has a dual-cabin configuration composed of Business First and Premium Economy sections.

Wataniya Airways was formed as part of the Kuwait Government’s liberalization of aviation services in 2005[3] and was founded by Kuwaiti corporations that include corporate giant Kipco which owns majority shares in the company. The airline launched a public offering of 350 million shares in January 2006, the equivalent of 70% of its capital of KWD50 million (USD 188 million), and listed its shares on the Kuwait Stock Exchange by the end of 2008.[4]

Wataniya Airways' visual identity was unveiled to the public in May 2008. The tail fin of Wataniya Airways' aircraft is purple, and features the internationally known symbol of Kuwait—the Kuwait Towers.[5]

Due to overcapacity on some flights, the airline decided in December 2010 to reduce operation, park three aircraft, and lay off some employees.[6]

On 16 March 2011, Wataniya Airways ceased all its operations because of financial difficulties, and began discussions with its shareholders to determine the future of the company.[7]

In August 2016, it was announced that the airline is considering resuming services. The decision to restart flights follows the company’s settlement of debt talks with Kuwait Airways’ Kuwait Aviation Services Company. The carrier’s legal claims with Kuwait’s Aviation Lease and Finance Company (ALAFCO) are still under review in Kuwaiti court. Initial 17 destinations will be to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq. In the second year, destinations in Lebanon, Jordan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and Spain will be available. Although a set resumption date has yet to be announced.[8]

Wataniya received its air operations permit on 19 June 2017