Latest news with #BarathanPasupathi
Al Bawaba
18 hours ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Jazeera Airways Restarts Direct Flights to Abha
Jazeera Airways, Kuwait's leading low-cost carrier, is resuming direct flights to Abha, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, starting 15 July 2025. The seasonal route will operate three times a week until the end of September 2025, providing a convenient connection for travelers from Kuwait and across the region to one of Saudi Arabia's most scenic and culturally rich as the 'Bride of the Mountain,' Abha offers a unique summer escape with cooler temperatures ranging between 25–30°C, a vibrant cultural heritage, and picturesque mountain landscapes. Located in the Aseer region at the southern end of the Red Sea, Abha serves as an ideal base to explore the natural beauty and elevated terrains of southwestern Saudi on the relaunch, Barathan Pasupathi, Chief Executive Officer of Jazeera Airways, said: 'We are excited to bring back our seasonal service to the beautiful city of Abha—a destination that offers refreshing mountain breezes, breath taking natural landscapes, and a rich cultural heritage, making it an ideal getaway for summer travelers across the region. This route reflects our continued commitment to providing accessible and value-driven travel options to destinations beyond the ordinary. We extend our sincere thanks to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and the Saudi Air Connectivity Program for their strong collaboration and unwavering support in making this relaunch possible.'Abha is the seventh destination served by Jazeera Airways in the Kingdom, further strengthening the airline's footprint in Saudi Arabia. In addition to direct traffic from Kuwait, the airline continues to facilitate connections from across its wider network into the Kingdom via behalf of the Saudi Tourism Authority, a long-standing Jazeera Airways partner in KSA, Abdulkarim Aldarwish, President of MEA Markets, explained 'We are pleased to announce the Jazeera Airways direct route from Kuwait to Abha, just in time for the peak summer season. Jazeera is a Key partner for Saudi destinations, and their continued investment in Saudi routes support our broader strategy to enhance air connectivity, we look forward to unlocking opportunities for travellers and business and promote Saudi destinations. The response to our 'Colour your Summer' campaign has been extremely positive particularly from Kuwait.' Majid Khan, CEO of Air Connectivity Program commented 'Enhancing Air Connectivity to the beautiful Aseer region from international markets is very high priority to further achieve our tourism targets from key source markets. We are delighted with the new direct route from Kuwait – Abha. This new route will provide direct access to Kuwaiti tourists through our partner, Jazeera Airways. We look forward to further develop a close partnership with Jazeera Airways in coming years to develop direct routes into Saudi Arabia.'
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Jazeera Airways restarts direct flights to Abha
Kuwait City – Jazeera Airways, Kuwait's leading low-cost carrier, is resuming direct flights to Abha, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, starting 15 July 2025. The seasonal route will operate three times a week until the end of September 2025, providing a convenient connection for travelers from Kuwait and across the region to one of Saudi Arabia's most scenic and culturally rich destinations. Known as the 'Bride of the Mountain,' Abha offers a unique summer escape with cooler temperatures ranging between 25–30°C, a vibrant cultural heritage, and picturesque mountain landscapes. Located in the Aseer region at the southern end of the Red Sea, Abha serves as an ideal base to explore the natural beauty and elevated terrains of southwestern Saudi Arabia. Commenting on the relaunch, Barathan Pasupathi, Chief Executive Officer of Jazeera Airways, said: 'We are excited to bring back our seasonal service to the beautiful city of Abha—a destination that offers refreshing mountain breezes, breath taking natural landscapes, and a rich cultural heritage, making it an ideal getaway for summer travelers across the region. This route reflects our continued commitment to providing accessible and value-driven travel options to destinations beyond the ordinary. We extend our sincere thanks to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and the Saudi Air Connectivity Program for their strong collaboration and unwavering support in making this relaunch possible.' Abha is the seventh destination served by Jazeera Airways in the Kingdom, further strengthening the airline's footprint in Saudi Arabia. In addition to direct traffic from Kuwait, the airline continues to facilitate connections from across its wider network into the Kingdom via Kuwait. On behalf of the Saudi Tourism Authority, a long-standing Jazeera Airways partner in KSA, Abdulkarim Aldarwish, President of MEA Markets, explained 'We are pleased to announce the Jazeera Airways direct route from Kuwait to Abha, just in time for the peak summer season. Jazeera is a Key partner for Saudi destinations, and their continued investment in Saudi routes support our broader strategy to enhance air connectivity, we look forward to unlocking opportunities for travellers and business and promote Saudi destinations. The response to our 'Colour your Summer' campaign has been extremely positive particularly from Kuwait.'. Majid Khan, CEO of Air Connectivity Program commented 'Enhancing Air Connectivity to the beautiful Aseer region from international markets is very high priority to further achieve our tourism targets from key source markets. We are delighted with the new direct route from Kuwait – Abha. This new route will provide direct access to Kuwaiti tourists through our partner, Jazeera Airways. We look forward to further develop a close partnership with Jazeera Airways in coming years to develop direct routes into Saudi Arabia.' Flight Schedule: Kuwait (KWI) – Abha (AHB) Flight No. Frequency From To Departure (Local Time) Arrival (Local Time) J9 0237 Tuesday, Friday, Sunday KWI AHB 16:50 19:00 J9 0238 Tuesday, Friday, Sunday AHB KWI 20:00 22:00 Note: Flight times and frequencies are subject to change. To book flights, travelers can visit Jazeera's mobile application or call 177. About Jazeera Airways Founded in 2004, Jazeera Airways is a leading low-cost carrier based in Kuwait, serving over 5 million passengers across a network of more than 60 destinations in the Middle East, Central and South Asia, Africa, and Europe. Dedicated to offering affordable, high-quality air travel, Jazeera Airways caters to business, leisure, religious, and weekend travellers, all while maintaining the highest standards of safety and customer service. Jazeera Airways currently operates a modern and efficient fleet of 24 Airbus A320ceo and A320neo aircraft, enabling it to optimize fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact. 26 new aircraft from its orderbook, 18 A320neos and 8 A321neos are expected to arrive 2027 onwards. The only publicly traded airline on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (Boursa Kuwait), Jazeera Airways was recognized as a Fortune 500 Arabia company and named "Great Place to Work" in 2023. A trailblazer in the aviation sector, Jazeera Airways has introduced several digital initiatives to its customer experience and is one of the first to design, build, and operate its own terminal, Jazeera Terminal 5 (T5), at the Kuwait International Airport.
The National
10-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Jazeera Airways in the market for more narrow-body jets to capture European traffic
Kuwait's Jazeera Airways is considering the acquisition of additional narrow-body aircraft to caplitalise on "opportunistic growth' and fill a void in direct flights between Kuwait and Europe after 14 European carriers pulled out of Kuwait International Airport in the past few months, its chief executive said. The low-cost carrier is also looking towards closer co-operation with the national flag carrier Kuwait Airways to enter into a "complementary' partnership – similar to that of Emirates and flydubai – that will help them have an expanded point-to-point network. To spearhead growth, the airline is in talks with lessors for longer-range single-aisle planes such as the Airbus A321 LR and the A321 XLR as it plans for its fleet requirements, Barathan Pasupathi, chief executive, told The National. The all-Airbus operator is also studying Embraer's E2 jets for point-to-point routes with lower density traffic. "We are in the market for more narrow-body aircraft,' Mr Pasupathi said. "Sustained growth will come from the aircraft order book. Opportunistic growth will come from aircraft that we will take opportunistically into our fleet and hub when the right time comes.' Jazeera is already in talks with number of lessors who have approached the airline but Mr Pasupathi ruled out interest in widebody jets "for the time being', to keep a check on costs. While the availability of aircraft in the market is limited, lessors are offering their customers aircraft that have been declined by airlines which are experiencing a tapering off in travel demand. "We are now seeing appetite in the market for lessors knocking on doors of airlines who can absorb their capacity,' he said. Summer of 2026: A 'different ballgame' Jazeera Airways sees "opportunistic growth' potential for direct flights between Kuwait and Europe after 14 European carriers pulled out of Kuwait International Airport over the last few months. The airlines halted flights amid shortcomings in airport infrastructure and weak demand. Most recently, IAG-owned British Airways ended its London-Kuwait route in March after six decades of service as it did not expect to have enough aircraft to operate the flights. Jazeera Airways has a " game plan' to build point-to-point connections, particularly in Europe to fill the gap, and is launching services to several European destinations this summer, Mr Pasupathi said. On June 5, it started twice-weekly flights between Kuwait and Hungarian capital Budapest, marking the first non-stop service between the two countries. Asked when the airline will need to acquire additional narrow-body aircraft to meet demand, Mr Pasupathi said: "Summer of 2026 is going to be a different ballgame, if you look at the lack of European carriers in Kuwait.' "We're being approached by a lot of airports to go into Europe. There has to be a tangible return. We are studying a lot of business cases, plans, airports.' There is a "deep interest' from airports approaching Jazeera Airways thanks to Kuwait's "yield-accretive' market, well-travelled Kuwaiti population and high-spending international travellers, he said, declining to name the airports. Travel demand is also growing amid easing visa and work permit issuances in Kuwait, while intra-Gulf traffic is rising and Gulf-Europe traffic will grow when Kuwaiti citizens get visa-free access to the Schengen region, he said. Growth elsewhere Jazeera Airways is making significant inroads into Central Asia, from where it is flying pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and the year-round Umrah. Going in the other direction, there is also outbound tourism demand from Kuwait to visit these countries, he said. Travel demand growth in Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Iran and Central Asia is "giving us tremendous confidence that there will be opportunistic windows to pursue and we're watching this space very carefully,' he added. "We are pleased that markets that are opening up will require aircraft capacity in point-to-point [traffic]. We also see opportunities in fifth and sixth freedom growth in some markets,' Mr Pasupathi said. Fifth freedom rights allow an airline to fly between foreign countries as a part of services to and from its home country. The so-called sixth-freedom right allows an airline to carry passengers or cargo from a second country to a third country, provided it touches down in its home country. Aircraft deliveries The airline is awaiting the arrival of 26 new aircraft – 18 A320 Neos and eight A321 Neos – that it had ordered at the Dubai Airshow in 2021. It will start taking delivery of the first A320 Neos on schedule by the end of 2026, while the A321 Neos will be handed over from 2027 onwards, both through to the end of 2030. In December, Jazeera Airways announced plans to buy six Airbus A320 classic variant planes that it currently leases and operates, in an effort to mitigate the supply chain challenges plaguing the industry. "This will give us good, sustained growth between 2024 to 2030,' Mr Pasupathi said. "However, we are very positive that we may need to grow beyond this.' 'Complementary' partnership with Kuwait Airways There is also a "tremendous' opportunity for Jazeera Airways and flag carrier Kuwait Airways to enter into a "complementary' partnership similar to that of Emirates and flydubai, he said. "From an aviation hub strategy, that excited us … we would have like to have it yesterday.' Further backing its growth ambitions, Jazeera Airways will expand Terminal 5, its terminal in Kuwait International Airport. Plans are in place to increase its capacity to 7.5 million passengers, up from five million now, to cater for anticipated growth over the next two-to-three years. "We are getting the approvals shortly,' he said. Looking ahead, the airline is "buoyed' by strong market growth, lower fuel prices and new top management executives that will shape the airline's network and commercial planning, he said. In May, the airline said it hired Paul Carroll as chief commercial officer. The former chief commercial officer of the AirAsia Group brings more than 20 years of aviation experience.
Zawya
09-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jazeera Airways launches first direct flight to Budapest
Kuwait - Jazeera Airways launches twice-weekly flights between Kuwait and Budapest, Hungary, marking the first-ever non-stop air connection between the two countries. This move marks key opportunities for tourism, business, and cultural exchange, according to a press release. Barathan Pasupathi, CEO of Jazeera Airways, and András Szabó, Ambassador of Hungary to Kuwait, were onboard the inaugural flight. The new route, welcomed by Budapest Airport and supported by Visit Hungary, offers travelers from Kuwait easy access to one of Europe's most charming capitals, rich in history, architecture, and thermal spas. Meanwhile, passengers can book flights via the Jazeera Airways website, mobile app, or call center at 177. Jazeera Airways also offers a range of fare bundles, products and services as well as connections beyond Kuwait to destinations across the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. All Rights Reserved - Mubasher Info © 2005 - 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Al Bawaba
06-06-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Jazeera Airways First Direct Flight to Budapest Takes Off
Jazeera Airways today started its direct service between Kuwait and Budapest, Hungary. The twice-weekly flights mark the first-ever non-stop air connection between the two countries, opening up exciting opportunities for tourism, business, and cultural Pasupathi, Chief Executive Officer of Jazeera Airways, and H.E. András Szabó, Ambassador of Hungary to Kuwait, were onboard the inaugural flight, which featured a celebratory send-off for all passengers and included a unique souvenir boarding pass presented to the first passenger checked new route, welcomed by Budapest Airport and supported by Visit Hungary, offers travelers from Kuwait easy access to one of Europe's most charming capitals, rich in history, architecture, and thermal spas. Passengers can now book flights via the Jazeera Airways website, mobile app, or call center at 177. Jazeera Airways also offers a range of fare bundles, products and services as well as connections beyond Kuwait to destinations across the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa.
