Interview with chairman and managing director, kuwait airlines

INTERVIEW >> Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3

Interview with Mr. Hamad A. Latif Al-Falah - Kuwait Airways Chairman & Managing Director, by Vinay Grover, CEO & Founder, www.BookMyHotel.biz
BMH:	Can you elaborate on expansion plans, route-wise and aircraft-wise, for Kuwait Airways? What factors are driving these expansion plans?
Chairman & MD, Kuwait Airways	Kuwait Airways has on hand a Ten year plan which has been prepared by IATA consultants at the request of Kuwait’s Government two years ago. This project was undertaken prior to the decision of privatization. The plan includes both horizontal and vertical expansion for Kuwait Airways network as well as the fleet.
BMH:	What are your targets for this year? What’s on your agenda?
Chairman & MD, Kuwait Airways	Kuwait Airways Passenger target for 2010/2011 is KD 175.5 Million and for Cargo it is KD 24 Million. We also have a new plan on our agenda which has been prepared from a commercial point of view. We intend to implement this new plan after moving to Kuwait Investment Authority and we will base our market strategies in accordance with private sector policies.
BMH	What are your views on paid carry-on baggage fees being levied by various airlines?
Chairman & MD, Kuwait Airways	As Chairman and Managing Director of one of the leading airlines in the Middle East, I do not think charging passengers for carry on baggage is a good practice. Ours is a commercial airline where customer service and satisfaction are given utmost importance. Some of the low cost airlines, in order to boost their profits, may be charging passengers for carry on baggage. These are some sort of hidden costs while buying tickets from such airlines. Passengers realize it only at a later stage. But we work in a very transparent manner. While saying this, I must emphasis that if it affects the safety and security of our passengers we will definitely discourage such practice. The free carry on baggage must be within the IATA specified dimensions and weights. It should not cause any inconvenience to fellow passengers. After all ours is a customer friendly airline.
BMH	What lessons have airlines learnt from the ensuing economic recession?
Chairman & MD, Kuwait Airways	The economic recession impacted most airlines, although the extent of the impact on individual airlines varied. As a result the actions taken by individual carriers also varied greatly. In general however, many airlines resorted to cost cuttings through reduction in administrative costs and some operating costs as well by as by cutting down on excess capacity on marginal routes.

INTERVIEW >> Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3

Exclusive Interview with

Mr. Hamad A. Latif Al-Falah - Kuwait Airways Chairman & Managing Director - by www.BookMyHotel.biz

I N T E R V I E W>>

Hamid A. Latif interview with bookmyhotel.biz

"Kuwait Airways has on hand a Ten year plan which has been prepared by IATA consultants at the request of Kuwait’s Government two years ago. This project was undertaken prior to the decision of privatization. The plan includes both horizontal and vertical expansion for Kuwait Airways network as well as the fleet.."

INTERVIEW >> Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3

<< Home