Kuwait Airways looks to double passengers at KWI

Kuwait Airways is seeking to double its share of passengers using Kuwait International Airport (KWI). For years, the carrier has lagged badly behind other airlines in the Gulf, with an increasingly archaic fleet that includes Airbus A300-600s and A310-300s. Passenger numbers have trailed off as inflight standards failed to keep pace with modern standards. The airline has 20% of passengers using the airport, which it hopes to increase to 40%-45%, the figure it achieved before it began its decline, recently appointed CE Abdullah Al Sharhan said. The presence on the static line of a newly delivered Airbus A330 is symbolic of the renaissance of the airline, he added. "We want to show everyone that this is the new Kuwait Airways. We're working on transforming the company". The Kuwait govt has financially underwritten the airline, but Al Sharhan said he wanted to transform it into a financially independent entity. <br/>