Kuwait Airways Takes Delivery Of World's First A330-800neo

I thought Kuwait announced a boycott of French products a few days ago in response to Emmanuela Micron Milfhunter Maricon cracking down on Islamic Terrorism.

Is Kuwait Airlines still racist by banning Jews? I'll never set for on one of their planes

Not sure about their route planning when they placed the order, but the range difference between the two models out of KWI covers US west coast, most of Americas south of US and east coast of Australia. That would be a good enough reason to go longer range.

Well, as an avgeek based out of KWI, i was able to capture the A330-800 landing into KWI. Such a beast but looked smaller than expected lol

@Alan
They are not banning Jews - the state of Kuwait is just not issuing (transit) visas to Israeli passport holders. And Kuwait Airways is just denying boarding to people who don't fulfill the necessary requirements.
Same with other Airlines in other places: If a Brazilian wants to fly from Sao Paulo to Tokyo via Houston he will need a US transit visa, otherwise United will deny him boarding.

Jews travelling on their American or European passports are entirely fine.

I was scheduled to fly on an A330-900neo from SEA-PVG in March, but that trip was cancelled due to COVID. 🙁 Looked like it would have been nice!

I thought Hawaiian Airlines wanted to order it but was pissed that so few had been sold so it made Airbus' situation worse. Hawaiian turned its back on the A330-800neo. Hawaiian didn't want to be the Emirates of the A330neo, the only airline operating besides a few funny airlines.

@Max

The boycott is not official policy, nor has the government mentioned anything about it. The boycott is called by the Union of Cooperative Societies in Kuwait and some MPs, probably to score some political points before the December 5 elections.

@Derek Hawaiian had a bunch of orders for the 800 but yea they were bummed on the low sales. Airbus should have just gave them the 900 but I understand why they would still want them to sell the 800. Unfortunately Boeing came thru and swooped and sold them the 787 cuz the A330 with 2-4-2 is more conformable than cramped Dreamliner.

@ Max and Alan,

Kuwait is among the ME countries "planning" to open to Israel but not yet fully comfortable with their public opinion. Suffice it to say that, had they been at peace with Israel in the 1990's, they would never have been invaded by Saddam Hussein's Irak. The big bad guy in the region is now called Iran and the only regional power able to stand up to it is Israel.

Saudi Arabia has understood it well, hence their small steps opening to Israeli overflights etc... Once this is out of the way and it will be, all ME countries will follow.

Strangely (and it would be funny if it were not so sad), the nation which will encounter the most problems to join is Qatar, through no fault of theirs but because they have come to depend so much on Iran after the ridiculous Saudi / UAE dispute and embargo, a situation which everybody would like to get out of although nobody knows how. This too will eventually come.

@burritomiles - oh how I loathe flying the 787, even in premium classes. Flew to Tahiti via New Zealand, both Air New Zealand and Air Tahiti Nui, all in premium economy and it was not nice. I mean, it's a quiet enough plane, but for some reason is just not comfortable and everything feels cramped. Can't stand the electronic window shades either, they're just too weird. Worst flight ever was on a UA 787 from DIA - NRT, as I got re-routed due to problems using the kiosks checking in at LAS and thus missed my flight. Middle seat in economy between a guy that was sleeping in the Isle seat and a guy working on his laptop in the window seat. Never hated flying so much in my life.
Thai actually has ok business class seats in their 787's, roomier than in their 777 amazingly.

The problem with Kuwait Airlines is not so much the airline itself, but the fact that you have to use the Kuwait Airport which is terrible when comparing it to the airports in Dubai, Doha and Muscat.

@SullyofDoha - The main terminal in KWI was built in the 70s. The airport is a mess but it's impressive when you realize that this airport has been maintained for around 50 years and even went through a terrible war. If you are transiting through Kuwait Airways, you'll be using Terminal 4 which opened in 2018. It's obviously better than the Terminal 1 and looks chic. KWI's Terminal 2 will be reopening in 2022 and that should hopefully be the turning point for Kuwaiti Aviation following decades of struggles in maintaining their airline and airport, following a brutal war. Now that they've got 77Ws, A330-800neos and A320neos, they are on the right path.

Unpopular Opinion : is it just me or does Muscat Airport feel like a combo of Dubai T3 + Doha Hamad mixed together?

I did countless TAP flights between Portugal and Brazil.
I like the A339neo, but I prefer the A350 and B787.

@Alan
It is not the airline's fault that the government makes and enforces the rules. Think about it, if you decided to smoke on a United Airlines flight and the flight crew decides to divert and kick you off, you would look ridiculous if you try to blame and sue United for the rules that the government (which United Airlines is not) made and required enforcement of.

@Bruh, I guess I have not kept up with the changes at Kuwait Airport. I flew there on a QR flight for a rugby match (sand pitch, good times LOL). The airport was just nasty. I guess I was in the old terminal. My wife transited through a couple years ago and I never heard the end of of it as she also had a less than seamless transfer.
As for the Muscat Airport, I can't complain, it is my transit airport of choice going between Qatar and UAE. It is so much better than to old airport. I though it kind of has it's own unique style with the rock work and plants. Much more light colouring than the dark colours of Hamad, but yes, maybe a bit more like DXB Terminal 3.

Now they just need to work on their wine list.