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Kuwait Airways advances fleet growth amid delivery delays

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KUWAIT: Kuwait Airways is pushing ahead with plans to develop the national carrier and strengthen its position among the leading airlines in the Gulf, despite ongoing challenges related to aircraft delivery delays and regional geopolitical tensions.

Abdulmohsen Al-Fagaan, Chairman of Kuwait Airways’ Board, said the company expects to receive a new Airbus A321neo by the end of this month, along with two Airbus A330-900neos before the end of the year. This will bring the carrier’s fleet to 30 aircraft by the end of 2025, up from 27 aircraft currently in operation.

“We have a clear strategic plan, and we are already starting to see positive results,” Al-Fagaan said following the company’s fully attended annual general assembly on Monday. He highlighted steady improvements in service quality and several partnerships with companies such as Saudi Railways, Saudi Airlines, and Amadeus, a leading provider of aviation technology and innovation solutions.

However, Kuwait Airways is encountering difficulties in achieving its strategic goals, including increasing passenger numbers from over four million in 2024 to 5.5 million by 2025, said Al-Fagaan. The airline had also previously aimed to break even by 2025 following several years of accumulated losses. But delays in plane deliveries, combined with geopolitical tensions affecting some destination countries, have hindered progress toward this target. “The delay in deliveries is not unique to Kuwait Airways; many airlines worldwide are facing the same problem,” Al-Fagaan said during a press conference following the company’s annual general meeting.

The airline has also had to adjust its fleet size due to these delays and the return of leased planes, at one point operating only 23 aircraft. Such reductions inevitably affect passenger volumes and financial performance, said Al-Fagaan. The company’s growth plans had anticipated a fleet of 33 aircraft by 2024.

Regarding compensation for delays, Kuwait Airways has received Airbus payments in the form of credits rather than cash. These credits, which amount to millions, can be used for spare parts, training, and other services.

“They have been paid—it’s not cash, but credit,” Al-Fagaan explained. “You use it to buy spare parts, training, or other things. It’s a good amount of money.”

The company did not disclose its 2024 financial results during the briefing.

Al-Fagaan emphasized the board’s commitment to addressing all observations and requests from the State Audit Bureau, reducing the number of outstanding financial violations from 16 to seven currently under investigation.

Kuwait Airways has faced a series of financial and administrative violations in the past. A notable case involved an absorption contract with Kuwait Aviation Services Company (KASCO), which raised concerns about financial oversight and was later corrected after official intervention. The carrier cancelled the contract in 2024.

The airline had also acknowledged irregularities related to expenses for its 65th anniversary celebration, including inflated costs and unsupported sponsorship claims.

While Al-Fagaan did not disclose details on the current violations, he reassured that the airline is fully committed to resolving them transparently and maintaining high standards of governance. — Agencies

Abdulmohsen Al-Fagaan

Abdulmohsen Al-Fagaan

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Deliveroo Kuwait unveils exclusive global dishes

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KUWAIT: Deliveroo Kuwait is serving up a global culinary journey with the launch of the new dishes from “The Exchange Program”. The first-of-its-kind initiative sent four of Kuwait’s top chefs abroad to explore viral food trends. Each created a fusion dish inspired by their journey, available exclusively on Deliveroo.

The program kicked off with Chef Khaled Al-Baker of Young Po, who took inspiration from the bustling streets of Seoul, South Korea, to introduce Rabokki. The dish combines chewy rice cakes and ramen noodles in a spicy, savory sauce, bringing the authentic flavors of Korean street food straight to Kuwait.

From Rome, Italy, Chef Faisal Al-Nashmi of San Ristorante is introducing the Maritozzi Box. Featuring indulgent cream-filled buns, the dish captures the essence of Italy’s sweet traditions while adding Chef Al-Nashmi’s modern touch. Chef Sawsan Daana of Matbakhi is channeling the spirit of Athens, Greece, with the Savory Souffra. Inspired by the communal dining tables of the Mediterranean, this dish celebrates togetherness through a vibrant spread of flavors that highlight the richness and warmth of Greek cuisine.

Finally, OH G!’s Chef Ghalia Hayat is bringing a taste of London, England, with the Donut Pudding Ice Cream. Reinventing classic British desserts, this whimsical dish brings together Hayat’s salted caramel pudding ice cream with a decadent chocolatey fudge swirl and chunks of donut, to deliver a unique sweet experience that will surprise and delight.

Deliveroo Kuwait’s Exchange Program is more than just a menu — it’s a cultural experience. By spotlighting Kuwaiti chefs and their creative reinterpretations of international dishes, the program bridges food trends with local talent, inviting customers to explore the world without leaving their homes. All dishes are available now and for a limited time, exclusively on Deliveroo Kuwait.

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Kuwait to standardize recognition of foreign high school diplomas

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KUWAIT: Kuwait’s ministers of education and higher education are working on a unified system to recognize foreign high school diplomas, a move that comes amid long-running concerns over fairness in the government’s scholarship program.

Every year, thousands of Kuwaiti high school graduates compete for all-expenses-paid government scholarships to study abroad. While students from public, private, and foreign schools can apply, critics have repeatedly accused the program of favouring graduates of foreign-language private schools — a claim officials have repeatedly denied.

On Wednesday, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr Nader Al-Jallal and Minister of Education Jalal Al-Tabtabai held a joint meeting to discuss a standardized process. Senior officials from both ministries and representatives from higher education institutions also attended.

In a joint statement, the ministers said they focused on “organizational and technical aspects of the recognition process in a way that limits grade inflation and ensures fairness and equal opportunity for graduates of the Ministry of Education who wish to join various higher education institutions inside and outside the country.”

They also emphasized “the importance of continuing coordination and working in a team spirit between the two sides to reach an integrated and fair system that reinforces confidence in the mechanisms for recognizing foreign secondary school certificates” and committed to implementing the agreed-upon measures “to ensure swift completion and achieve the desired goals.”

The ministries said the effort will help unify procedures to meet the requirements of the coming phase and serve the public interest of students and their families. — Agencies

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CAN kicks off annual breast cancer awareness campaign

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KUWAIT: The National Cancer Awareness Campaign (CAN) has launched its annual breast cancer awareness initiative, “Pink Lifebuoy,” under the patronage of Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Children Dr Amthal Al-Huwaila, in cooperation with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. The campaign will run throughout October to spread health awareness and encourage early screening for breast cancer.

Speaking at the launch ceremony on Wednesday, CAN Chairman Dr Khaled Al-Saleh stressed that “awareness and knowledge are the first step toward prevention and recovery,” noting that breast cancer ranks first among cancers affecting women in Kuwait, and is also the most common cancer among women worldwide.

Dr Al-Saleh highlighted a recent global study showing cancer recovery rates in Kuwait have risen to 44 percent this year, crediting the progress to increased awareness and early detection efforts. Citing data from the Kuwait Cancer Control Center, he said 582 breast cancer cases were recorded among women in Kuwait, including 326 Kuwaiti and 256 non-Kuwaiti patients. Encouragingly, survival rates remain high, with figures showing that 94.5 percent of patients diagnosed in 2020 are still alive, and that most cases are detected at stage II.

“Knowledge and awareness are a lifeline for women,” Dr Al-Saleh said, emphasizing the importance of health education and monthly breast self-examinations. He urged women to recognize early warning signs and practice self-exams regularly as a simple but effective tool for early detection.


Dr Hessa Majid Al-Shaheen

Dr Hessa Majid Al-Shaheen

Board member and initiative head Dr Hessa Majid Al-Shaheen underlined the campaign’s social impact, saying it has encouraged more women to undergo mammograms and self-examination training. She noted that more than 172,000 female students have already been trained in breast self-examination techniques.

For the past 14 years, CAN has organized a series of events during “Pink October,” including self-examination workshops in companies, universities, and the Public Authority for Applied Education, as well as awareness exhibitions in shopping malls, health centers, and hospitals. Awareness lectures are also delivered in schools, targeting both students and teachers to reinforce the importance of early detection.

Dr Al-Shaheen stressed that continued cooperation between health, social, educational, and media institutions is key to strengthening awareness efforts, supporting early screening, providing psychological care to patients, and motivating the community to adopt healthy lifestyles that help prevent cancer. — KUNA

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