Kuwait hits back at media over Amiri Flight criticism
Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) has dismissed as "untrue" circulated media reports and rumors about the number of aircraft currently in use in the country's Amir's aircraft fleet, a KAC press statement said today
The use of HH the Amir's aircraft fleet is subject to clear controls, rules, and procedures, said the airline, which is the sole service agent of the fleet.
The Amiri fleet is used to transport official Amir-sponsored, governmental, parliamentary, and similar delegations, said the statement said.
The airline said that the number of the planes in the fleet are chosen for trips according to the nature of those trips and the size of the official delegations aboard the planes.
It said that "no certain aircraft is allocated for a particular official on their own except for those affiliated with and sanctioned by His Highness the Amir." "Even the plane for the personal use of the Amir is used by KAC to transport passengers if the need arises," it said.
KAC confirmed that the Amiri aircraft fleet is currently made up of eight aircraft
"This is the smallest fleet, in number and also accommodations, in the region," it said.
The royal fleet has been the subject of criticism in some areas – particularly relating the deterioration of the Kuwait Airways passenger fleet. At least one of the latest head of state aircraft to be launched by Boeing – the B747-8 jumbo jet – is at a completion centre being fitted for the Kuwaiti royal flight. There were accusations in the media that the royal fleet had grown to something between 18 and 27 aircraft.
"These reports are totally untrue and the number of Amiri aircraft fleet comprises only eight planes," KAC said. The airline publicly urged the media to seek accuracy and objectivity in dealing with news and reports related to this issue and to take the accurate information from official sources
The government were also keen to explain to its nationals that the Amiri aircraft fleet is also used to transport and evacuate Kuwaiti citizens from areas in the world stricken by natural disasters or embroiled in socio-political unrest but upon directives from the ruler. Its medevac role extends to transporting Kuwaiti patients who need urgent medical treatment as well as for returning the bodies of dead citizens to Kuwait under instructions from the Amiri Diwan.
“The Amiri aircraft fleet is not in anyway used for sightseeing trips,” it said.