Wataniya Airways Announces Daily Flights from January 24th Between Dubai International Airport and Kuwait's Royal Terminal

- PLANET Travel & Tours has been appointed General Sales Agent inUnited Arab Emirates

Wataniya Airways, the first new full service luxury airline to be launched in theMiddle East in recent years, announced its first scheduled flights will be toDubai, commencing from Saturday, January 24th 2009. The airline, which is headquartered inKuwait, will operate twice daily toDubai from that date (full details below).

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Wataniya Airways CEO, George Cooper said that the announcement was the successful culmination of more than a year's careful and complex preparation, "I am delighted that we will be flying toDubai from the 24th of January onwards asDubai is a primary business and touristic hub in theMiddle East. There has been a long and close relationship betweenKuwait andUnited Arab Emirates and it is therefore fitting that this should be the first destination for Wataniya Airways."

Paul Sies, Commercial Director of Wataniya Airways said, "Wataniya Airways has appointed leading aviation, hospitality and travel advisor, Planet Group, as its General Sales Agent (GSA) inUnited Arab Emirates. The internationally recognised Group with varied business interests has received international acclaim for its continuous drive to deliver quality services and is an ideal partner to deliver luxury air travel to Wataniya Airways' guests."

"The launch of a new premium airline is an exciting time for aviation business enthusiasts as well as business and leisure travellers who are looking for a new standard in air travel," said George Moussa, Chairman of Planet Group. "We are pleased to be working with the Wataniya Airways team in Dubai and bring our local market expertise and service to this winning equation."

The new premium airline's luxury arrival point inKuwait will be the Royal Terminal, which provides a fitting setting for what will be a superior guest service both on the ground and in the air. It will be the first time that any commercial flight inKuwait has taken off from a location other than Kuwait International Airport and the announcement comes after gaining approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to use the prestigious luxury Royal Terminal as its base for operations.

The airline's new aircraft, which are all Airbus 320 models, will be configured with the lowest seat density of any A320 used on scheduled routes in the world. Each aircraft will feature 122 seats, compared with the 145 that a number of leading European airlines use on their A320s, ensuring excellent leg room and comfort throughout its first-class and premium-economy seats.

Wataniya Airways will be the first in the region to install revolutionary, cutting edge technology on board its new luxury aircraft providing travellers with unparalleled choice for in-flight entertainment and special facilities that will appeal to both leisure and business guests. The personal entertainment selection will create an outstanding personal home theatre experience and the new aircraft technology will provide First Class guests additional features by allowing them to plug their iPods (or similar MP3 devices) directly into sockets located in their seat.

And for the first time ever in the region, busy travellers can send and receive SMSs and emails on their mobile phones and Blackberries using OnAir innovative technology. The ability to use and recharge personal communications devices, including laptops, on Wataniya Airways planes will be an added value to business and leisure travellers.

Wataniya Airways new fleet will also be fitted with individually crafted German Recaro leather seating that provides the ultimate in comfort, suiting the short-haul flight business model in their First and Premium Economy classes and which are generally reserved for high-end luxury sports cars lines like Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Wataniya Airways commenced its ticketing operations in November, providing its guests with a range of convenient methods to obtain their tickets. Bookings can be made by either calling the Guest Contact Centre on +971(0)4-2869840 via the website (http://www.wataniyaairways.com) or through a preferred travel agent.

About Wataniya Airways

Wataniya Airways is a new full service luxury airline that will commence operations in 2009 offering a unique service with point to point connections fromKuwait to destinations across theMiddle East. Geared to the specific demands and needs of Kuwaiti nationals, it will fly modern A320 aircraft with 122 seats providing the most comfort, space and legroom of any scheduled airline using this aircraft in the world. Under the KW designation, Wataniya Airways will travel from the Royal Terminal inKuwait to destinations across theMiddle East.

For more information about Wataniya Airways go to: http://www.wataniyaairways.com

    The schedule for flights to Dubai (available from 24th January 2009) is:-

    KW 1000 Dep. KWI 08.15 Arr. DXB 10.55 Days of operation 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.

    KW 1001 Dep. DXB 11.55 Arr. KWI 12.45 Days of operation 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.

    KW 1008 Dep. KWI 18.25 Arr. DXB 21.05 Days of operation 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.

    KW 1009 Dep. DXB 22.05 Arr. KWI 22.55 Days of operation 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.



                                WATANIYA AIRWAYS

                                   FAST FACTS

    - A unique premium service airline for the Gulf and Middle East;
      headquartered in Kuwait

    - In 2009, Wataniya Airways will have leased four A320 Airbus aircraft
      with three more aircraft to come into service in 2010

    - 26 First Class seats + 96 Premium Economy Class Seats

    - More comfort and lots of legroom -Wataniya Airways has only 122 seats
      while most other international airlines carriers have 145 seats or more

    - Seat pitch of 44 inches for First and 34 inches for rest of the
      aircraft

    - First scheduled flights commencing Saturday 24th January 2009 to Dubai
      with two return flights per day

    - Convenient point to point scheduling geared to the convenience of
      travellers - with initial routes to the GCC and Middle East

    - Quality management team with experience from British Airways, Virgin
      Europe, Sky Europe and Kingfisher Air

    - Successful listing on Kuwait Stock Exchange took place December 15th
      2008

    - The only short-haul premium airline to be launched globally in several
      years

    - Awarded the Air Operators Certificate in July 2008

    - Maintenance and repair contract signed in September 2008 with Sabena
      technics, a leading independent Maintenance and Repair Organisation
      (MRO), to perform global maintenance services across the Wataniya
      Airways' fleet of A320 aircraft.

    - Selected renowned SabreSonic solutions for reservations

    - Multi-year agreement signed with Travelport GDS in November 2008, to
      provide all Galileo & Worldspan connected travel agents worldwide with
      access to the airline's fares and inventory.

    - First commercial flight to take off from the new luxury departure
      point, the Royal Terminal

    - Adopted OnAir innovative technology for sending and receiving SMSs and
      emails on mobile phones and powering personal communications devices
      including laptops

    - Aircraft fitted with special 'Recaro' leather seating

    - KW flight code assigned - ensuring easy Kuwaiti recognition

SOURCE Wataniya International

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