Sun 2 Oct 2005
Nobody can argue about Kuwait Airways being a big failure! I could give examples about the miserable state it has reached with no hope in sight, but that will take forever! It has become a disgrace to the country in a way! Maybe some of us got used to it, but a country with the money that Kuwait has should definitely have better airlines than a country like Sri Lanka or at least have something with the quality level of Qatar Airways or Emirates!
This peice of news came out last week with no surprise -
Troubled Kuwait Airways Corporation expects its restructuring plan to be delayed by high fuel prices and state- imposed costs, the airlines Chairman said on Sunday.
Sheikh Talal Mubarak Al- Sabah, who promised a three- year turn around through a cost-cutting drive after taking over in 2004, said he did not stand by the forecast any longer.
According to Skytrax Airline World Ranking, a website which ranks airlines, Kuwait Airways was given 3 stars. That puts it below Air Tahiti, Bangkok Airways (not Thai), Gulf Air, Middle East Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, and many many more quality airlines!
So, again I repeat, it is an embarassment for Kuwait!
Since there is no hope for a successful Kuwaiti national airline, news of Jazeera Airways being launched soon brings some glimmer of hope for Kuwaitis (especially if u own shares) ;P
Jazeera Airways was established back in 2004 with a capital of KD10 million raised through their IPO. Apparently, it is the ownly privately owned airline in the Middle East!
Jazeera Airways should not be compared to Kuwait Airways though, because they have a totally different business model! Kuwait Airways is in the regular travel market competing with companies like Emirates and British Airways and so on (yeah right!), while Jazeera Airways is a low cost, no frills airlines, which means they dont serve food (i think u have to buy it but im not sure), and just dont expect all the services u get on other airlines, but expect to pay alot less and get there!
There seems to be a misconception that low cost airlines are less safe, which is ridiculous! They have brand new A320’s. U can book a ticket online, through phone, or even sms, by calling 177. They start out with limited destinations which include Beirut, Dubai, Alexandria, Bahrain, plus a few more. A big plus is that they are open 24 hours for booking, and u never get bumped off (according to them)!
The most important part of the business model is the pricing, here is an example I was able to get (all prices are one-way) -
- Dubai 7-days a week KD 22
- Beirut 7-days a week KD 30
- Amman 3-days a week KD 29
- Damascus 7-days a week KD 30
- Bahrain 7-days a week KD 10
So my question is, do u think this airline will be successful here in Kuwait and the region?? If airlines like RyanAir or Southwest are an example of what to expect, then Jazeera Airways should be extremely successful!
21 Responses to “Jazeera Airways …. expectations?ِ”
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October 2nd, 2005 at 4:44 am
It will be successful, don’t worry.
I survived standing in a bus for more than two hours pressed against “people who smell really bad”. (to be politically correct)
I also survived a two days voluntarily fast, so the food isn’t a problem, really.
I will love this company.
October 2nd, 2005 at 5:55 am
It is going to be successful. Bahrain for 10 KD and Dubai 22KD, think of it this way now its worth it to go to bahrain for one day to only buy “7alwa”.
True, we should not compare this airline to Kuwait Airways, but believe it or not I think it is going to compete with it.
October 2nd, 2005 at 6:43 am
the prices you gave are the Jazeera listed prices, there is an additional 20 KD airport tax/stipend/service/whatever charge which you will only discover when you book a ticket.
Still good but not as attractive as the prices you listed.
October 2nd, 2005 at 9:02 am
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October 2nd, 2005 at 9:04 am
Yep its not much cheaper than Kuwait Airways if you add the airport tax, and you don’t get to sit in First or Business class - There aren’t any.
No first/business class = No Kuwaitis
The main reason Kuwaitis switched to other airlines, like the Emirates because its so much more luxurious, and now you want them to downgrade and squeeze their butts into smaller seats?! Highly unlikely
Its all about luxury these days, that what attracts Kuwaitis, Aljazeera will end up being the preferred carrier for expats , if they can deliver “true” savings, which I really doubt with the price of fuel going up
AlJazeera should upgrade the crappy seats and services offered by Kuwait Airways NOT the opposite!!
On my last trip coming back from London, the business class on BA was occupied by maids and cooks , no exaggeration, Kuwaitis are willing to pay loads of money if the chairs and services are worth it.
An Airplane that offers only first class quality seats, that’s what we really need
And what’s this Aljazeera name?? they couldn’t find something less Alqaeda flavored?
October 2nd, 2005 at 9:37 am
i think it will be successfull. I dont truly agree with Bo Jaij statement about No first class=No Kuwaitis. Obviously, Al Jazera does not target to those clients. They target individuals who travel frequently (business trips, quick getaways..etc). I’m plannig to go to Dubai soon, and I will try them out. Will let you know of the outcome.
October 2nd, 2005 at 10:54 am
Airplane food sucks. I just want an airline that gets me there on time
October 2nd, 2005 at 11:00 am
bo jaij… see my old article on Branding when I complained about Al-Jazeera’s name
The one the papers wouldn’t print
October 2nd, 2005 at 1:17 pm
1- الخطوط الجوية الكويتية شبه خاصة لكنها معتمدة اعتمد كلي على الحكومة
2-هي احدى أقدم الشركات (وهم قليلين جدا) على مستوى العالم و تاريخها يمتد لأكثر من نصف قرن..بينما باقي شركات الطيران القديمة غالبيتها اما فلست او غيرت اسمها واندمجت مع شركات ثانية او باعت الشركة لغيرها..يعني الشركات القديمة اللي ثبتت قليلة ومن بينها الكويتية
3- طبعا 50 سنه هذا تاريخ وخبرة لأي شركة ويرفع اسهمها على مستوى العالم
3-الكويتية لها مميزات كثيرة..مباني وبنى تحتية بالملايين..غير الميزات الثانية
4- الحكومة مهملة الخطوط الجوية الكويتية من سنين ومتخلفة عن سداد الكثير من مستحقاتها فلاهم قادرين يصلحون طياراتهم ولايطورونها ولايشترون يدد..والسبب معروف
هناك توجه لبيعها لحمد صباح الاحمد..ميت يبيها حلم حياته
ولكن النواب وقفوله بويهه للأسباب السابقة ان مو لعب اهو اتيي باردة مبردة تاخذها مع مميزاتها وتاريخها
5-ملاحظة اخيرة Q بالنسبة للتقييم “ranking” ترى أنا سألت ناس لهم علم وخبرة بالموضوع وقالولي ان السالفة فيها تلاعب ورشاوي للمسئولين عن التصنيف
تدري دعاية قوية اتيي الشركة اذا انحطت بالتقييم كأحسن شركة طيران بغض النظر عن الcategory مال الطيران
October 2nd, 2005 at 1:41 pm
Q, Kwt-DXB roudn trip is more like 66 KD you have to pay the taxes. But then again it’s better than paying 100 KD. KWT-BAH round trip is 33 KD including tax! now that’s a good deal.
October 2nd, 2005 at 11:21 pm
well i dont know how theyrank Gulf air better than kuwait airways .. yes kuwait airways is not good but gulf air is one of the worst !! f not being the worst .. i use them both frequently , kuwait airways is much better than the Gulf air airways ..
regardign the new company .. i think it gonna successed just like what hppen with al Arabia airlines .. their lines always bookedfor a month in advance ..well when they start everybody said that they gonna depend on expat but what is noticed that gulf citizin do use them too ..
October 3rd, 2005 at 2:24 am
Dear Q,
They could have picked a better name. Al-Jazeera is synonymous with terrorism in the west.
Truly,
Misguided
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October 30th, 2005 at 5:52 am
Hi-ho:
I definitely agree with you that a country such as Kuwait could do much better than a sloppy Kuwait Airways for a flag carrier.
On the other hand I do not see why a country like Sri Lanka cannot have a superior product to Kuwait’s. If wealth were the only criterion all US carriers would’ve been the talk of the airline industry, which they clearly are not. I guess, the answer lies, somewhere in service tradition of the Lankans or the Thais or the Indonesians, for that matter. We are talking very old civilizations here, renowned for their warmth and hospitality toward strangers, regardless of race or religion.
To be fair to you, however; let’s also not forget Emirates holds 40% stake in Sri Lankan which may help explain all the swish aircrafts and the EK like paraphernalia going alongside it.
Because of a fundamental reluctance to move away from being a “Kuwaiti-centric” model to being a “market-centric” model, even for once ; Kuwait Airways lately, is perpetually on the brink of going belly up.
All indications are “the Wings of Freedom” ( Jaz Airways) should surely, clip the wings of KU some more.
As for the luxury airline segment, the bottom has long since fallen out of the market. What airlines really hanker after today is getting more and more budget travellers to fly their planes. To the smart business man or woman it doesn’t matter to them if their passengers comprise the underbelly of society or not, as long as they are able to go laughing all the way to the bank.
I disagree with B.J that Kuwaitis would only ever fly first-class - in fact, industry insiders, paint a completley different picture, in terms of response they’ve had from Kuwaitis to the new kid ’round the block of a no-frills airline . Futhermore, I do not think we are still in the late 70s/early 80s mode for what class you travel in, to matter to most people today.
And last but not the least, let it be said Jazeera Airways is not about flying people goat class in the manner of Kuwait Airways’ Oasis or First Class.
Good luck to the Wings of Freedom!
Isabella.B
November 23rd, 2005 at 2:40 am
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November 24th, 2005 at 11:20 pm
In my opinion, Kuwait and in general GCC markets is on the verge of a considerable shift. For long these markets have been projected by local governments and traffic rights have been quite restricted. With Air Arabia bringing successful low cost business model to the region, a lot has changed. Now Jazeera has followed suit, then there is Jordon aviation operating from Aqaba, Jordon, Mena jet to some extend, Saudi Arabia to announce another in three months time and second low cost in Kuwait coming from KIPCO Group. So a lot is happening in the market and consumers will benefit towards better pricing and overall improvement on service. I believe you will see Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways and Jazeera competing for BAH markets, Air Arabia, Kuwait Airways, Jazeera, Thai Airways, Ukranian, Jat Airways, Srilankan etc competing for Kuwait-UAE and in particular Dubai bound traffic. Air Arabia due to its geographical location and family destination will attract more customers for Northern Emirates and Islamic passengers besides the fact that its seats are wider than even emirates airlines and more leg space than emirates and jazeera.
January 3rd, 2007 at 12:51 am
HALA YAjazerra airways is better and who have started this service he is good,the personscan not effort the ticket fares use to go there country in 4 to 5 years but now it is very easy theay can easily go in a year or months,al hamdollilah.SKYWARDS. (A JOURNEY OF THOUSAND MILES BEIGNS WITH THE FIRST STEP)SKYWARDS.
January 3rd, 2007 at 12:54 am
if any body is with me i would like him to send me a mail on this (skywards2@hotmail.com)
April 17th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
jazeera airlines is the worst at all…
i ‘ve just swear not to deal with them again…
No service, No elegent deal with customers…
They are losers..
June 22nd, 2008 at 7:53 am
how much kd kuwait from eygpt ???