Mumbai23 Aug 23 1 Traveller Economy
Showing International Flight from Beirut
About Jazeera Airways
Jazeera Airways KSC is a recognised Kuwaiti airline that has its head office situated on the grounds of Kuwait International Airport. The airline majorly operates scheduled flights that cater to cities in Europe and the Middle East. Kuwait International Airport in Al Farwaniyah Governorate, Kuwait, is the base for Jazeera Airways. With steady growth in its operations and passenger traffic, Jazeera Airways has managed to rise to the ranks of becoming the second-best national airline in Kuwait. As of 2009, Jazeera Airways has been recorded for being one of the largest operators from Kuwait International Airport which has handled about a quarter of aircraft movement and passenger traffic. Reports further state that Jazeera Airways had an overall of 1834 take-offs and landings in the year 2009, which brought about a growth in its aircraft movement by four per cent as the second-largest carrier. The Kuwait Directorate General issued the report for Civil Aviation.
The airline came into existence in 2004 and was founded by the Boodai Group. The Kuwait government allowed the establishment of a non-governmental airline firm to charter flights which brought an end to the 50-year-old dependency of Kuwait on its national flag carrier, Kuwait Airways. Jazeera Airways established Emiree Decree #89 was its first aircraft to function in the new liberalised aviation industry in Kuwait. The following years, Jazeera Airways cultivated a capital of KD 10 million (USD 35 million) by hosting an initial public offering in Kuwait. The same was oversubscribed about 12 times. Eventually, by 2007, the capital doubled to KD 20 million (USD 70 million) as a second offering was made to the existing group of shareholders.
By 2009, the airline announced a share distribution comprising 10 per cent as an increase in the capital which peaked to KD 22 million (USD 77 million) was witnessed. In terms of ownership, Boodai Group has the majority of stakes in Jazeera Airways with a whopping 26 per cent of shares. Boodai Group's two companies, Wings Finance and Boodai Projects, own nine per cent and seventeen percent of ownership, respectively. Meanwhile, a 6-7 percent of shares are owned by Jasem al-Mousa Trading. The company is basically owned by the former Minister of Public Works in the first established Kuwaiti government. A 17.5 per cent of shares in Jazeera Airways is also owned by two real estate companies in Kuwait while the rest of the shares is held publicly.
Flight operations for Jazeera Airways commenced in 2005 as it gathered a fleet comprising the new Airbus A320 aircraft. The airline catered to various destinations located in the Middle East. In 2009, the airline, which also had a hub for operations in Dubai, was asked by the United Arab Emirates to terminate the same. With a view to supporting their new low-cost airline, flydubai, the UAE authorities requested Jazeera Airways to terminate its ongoing operations from Dubai, Following this, the airline tweaked its operation model and concentrated much of its functions from Kuwait hub while scouting for a second hub around the Middle East. In 2010, a new model was proposed but proved to be unprofitable for Jazeera Airways as Kuwait City suffered from overcapacity. Eventually, the airline had to sacrifice much of its stations and parking and even cancel a lot of operations due to the same.
The airline did bring them back in the game a few years later. In 2018, Jazeera Airways managed to get its own dedicated terminal at the Kuwait International Airport. With this move, Jazeera Airways became the first private airline to receive its facility in the Middle East. The new terminal building features an extensive check-in hall catered to Jazeera Airways passengers. Along with this, there is a business class lounge, direct access to the boarding gates and a car park of 350 spaces that are connected by a sky bridge.
Fleet size of Jazeera Airways
Presently, Jazeera Airways has a fleet consisting of 13 aircraft which are all from the Airbus family. As of 2020, the airline has about nine Airbus A320-200s and four Airbus A320neo. Operations of the airline commenced with an Airbus aircraft. The fleet is majorly powered by CFM56-5B engines With respect to maintenance and repair of the aircraft, Jazeera Airways has tied up with Lufthansa Technik to take care of the fleet. All the seats in the aircraft of Jazeera Airways are leather and consist of 165 seats. The cabins are split into two cabins, the economy one as well as the business one called Jazeera and Jazeera Business. Jazeera Business comprises 12 extra seats in addition to the 147 economy seats on the aircraft. In 2007, the airline ordered for 30 Airbus A320s and made the announcement concerning the same at the Paris Air Show. They aimed at bringing the total count of their fleet with Airbus A320 to 35. However, due to the alternations in the operations following the termination of Dubai as a hub city for Jazeera Airways, five of the lessor Sahaab that they leased from Virgin Atlantic and SriLankan Airlines were returned. The following year, the airline also cancelled the orders for 25 A320s that the airline ordered in 2007. The airline did welcome the Airbus A320neo aircraft, first one from the Airbus family to operate from a Middle Eastern airline.
Baggage Allowance
Baggage allowance in Jazeera Airlines is quite impressive as they cater to a good amount for the economy and business class travellers. The airline allows a weight of up to 30 kg as free checked baggage for economy class. The same goes according to the standard rules set by international aviation laws. A single checked baggage piece cannot weigh beyond 32 kg. The passenger is allowed to carry a maximum of two bags in economy class. Dimensions of the baggage should not exceed a total of 158 cm for both the pieces of baggage. In case the weight does exceed the standards set, the airline does allow provisions to purchase more baggage at the airline's check-in counter. Business class passengers are allowed to carry approximately three baggage pieces in checked luggage. Once again, the dimension cannot exceed 158 cm for each of the baggage.
As for hand baggage, the standard protocol dictates that the passenger cannot carry weight exceeding 7 kg with them in the economy class cabin. Jazeera Airways allows only one baggage piece for economy class passengers to carry along with them on the aircraft. Meanwhile, the dimensions of the baggage cannot exceed 55cm x 40cm x 20cm. Declaration of the baggage must be made at the airport's check-in counter. Business class passengers are allowed to carry about three pieces of baggage as hand luggage with them, and the weight should not exceed 15 kg. The dimensions that the passenger's baggage should adhere to is the same as the economy class. Similarly, the airline expects the passenger to declare all the baggage at the check-in counter for security reasons.
In-flight services
Jazeera Airways' in-flight services have grown to meet global standards over time. As the airline only has Airbus in its fleet, the services are also quite fashionable and comfortable to cater to the needs of the passengers. This includes delicious in-flight meals, cosy seating, extra legroom and extremely friendly staff.
Popular routes and top cities for Jazeera Airways
Jazeera Airways is excellently connected to the domestic routes of the Middle East. It caters to a majority of Middle Eastern cities which include Amman, Doha, Medina, Riyadh, Beirut and Dubai, to name a few. With its base in Kuwait City, the airline has expanded to cater to several international routes as well, including the European continent and flights to India, Nepal, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Currently, some of the cities that Jazeera Airways caters to include Cairo, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Osh, Kathmandu, Lahore and Istanbul, to name a few.
In 2019, Jazeera Airlines launched its first flight service to London, bringing forth a new service between Kuwait and the United Kingdom in over 55 years. For the same, the airline has dedicated its newest A320neo aircraft. The dedicated terminal that Jazeera Airways operates from in Kuwait is recognised to have a slew of facilities and services. There are dedicated check-in counters in the hall reserved especially for passengers flying from the airline, facility of a business class lounge and several other such amenities.
Why travel by Jazeera Airways?
Jazeera Airways has grown to become one of the most sought-after airlines in terms of connectivity with several Middle Eastern cities. The airline boasts an excellent network of flights in its domestic routes and also has great international route connections with dedicated flights to Indian cities. The airline has also extended its in-flight services over the years. Growing with time, the airline now caters to online web check-ins, provides the passengers with flight status, enables booking of a Jazeera Airways flight and also offers flight schedules on its website and other travel portals.
