JEDDAH: Kuwait Airways achieved profits in September of SR61.8 million ($16.5 million), compared to a loss of SR123.7 million in the same month of 2019, Arab News quoted Kuwait Airways chairman, as saying.

Ali Al-Dukhan said in a press conference that the company faced many difficulties during the Covid-19 outbreak following the suspension of flights for several months as restrictions took hold globally.

He explained that he will negotiate with Airbus to change some types of the aircraft deal agreed upon in 2014, to enable the airline to expand its routes in several regions, including Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia and North America, excluding New York.

The company currently operates a fleet of 30 aircraft, a mix of owned and leased, which will increase to 38 aircraft in 2026 where it will own 33 of these and lease five.

The agreement with Airbus in 2014 was to buy 15 A320neo narrow-body jets and 10 of Airbus new A350-900 XWB, in the biggest overhaul of KA’s fleet since the 1990 Iraqi invasion. It also agreed to lease a further 22 Airbus jets as part of the deal.