UNITED AIRLINES INAUGURATES NON-STOP FLIGHTS TO

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004290 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA, EB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR FAA BEXP KU SUBJECT: UNITED AIRLINES INAUGURATES NON-STOP FLIGHTS TO KUWAIT ¶1. (U) On October 29, United Airlines (UAL) launched non-stop flights between Washington Dulles and Kuwait International Airport (KIA). The maiden flight, a Boeing 777, arrived just after 4:00pm local time, well ahead of schedule. UAL officials said 75% of the seats were sold, with First and Business classes completely full and coach class filled to 60% capacity. The return flight to the U.S. later that evening was roughly 60% full, with First class again sold-out. UAL said more than 8,000 pounds of cargo were loaded onto the return leg. United officials were extremely pleased with the two flights and said their operations were off to an excellent start. Flights are scheduled to take place three times per week. (See schedule in para 5.) ¶2. (U) As the inaugural flight coincided with both the Iraq Compact meeting in Kuwait and a conference hosted by the American-Kuwaiti Alliance (AKA),several high-ranking officials from Washington arrived on the first flight. The passengers included Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Robert Kimmitt, Kuwait's Ambassador to the United States Shaykh Salam Al-Sabah, Department of Commerce DAS Holly Vineyard, and a delegation of AKA members headed by former Ambassador Skip Gnehm. ¶3. (U) In conjunction with the beginning of these flights, UAL hosted a number of receptions and press events on October 29-30. Prior to the first U.S.-bound flight the evening of October 29, the Ambassador participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the UAL check-in counter at KIA. Officials from the Directorate of Civil Aviation, Kuwait Airways (with whom UAL contracted its ground handling needs),the Ministry of Interior, and numerous curious onlookers attended. UAL Vice President for Operations and Cargo Scott Dolan flew to Kuwait to preside over the opening. The event was well-covered by local print and broadcast media. In addition, on October 30, the Ambassador and UAL co-hosted a large, festive, and rainy reception at the Ambassador's residence. Minister of Commerce Falah Al-Hajiri attended the event along with the Amir's Economic Advisor Dr. Al-Ebraheem, a number of prominent Kuwaiti business people, travel agents, and several dozen United flight crew and local staff. In his remarks, the Ambassador noted the contribution of UAL's undertaking to fostering people-to-people linkages and highlighted the timing of the flights following in the wake of the Open Skies Agreement signed between the U.S. and Kuwait in September. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: UAL is off to a good start in Kuwait, and VP Dolan and UAL staff are optimistic about the months ahead, with bookings already solid for the remainder of the year. They are counting on the fact that a late-night departure from Kuwait, with an early morning arrival in Dulles that offers passengers forty-five flights around the U.S. within a two-hour window, will prove attractive to a wide range of Kuwaiti, American, and regional travelers. The GOK and Kuwait Airways have both been extremely supportive of UAL, working closely and cooperatively with a stream of technical and security officials over the last two months. Several sections of the Embassy have worked closely with UAL and will continue to assist as needed. ¶5. (U) UAL Flight Schedule: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays: UAL 982 departs Dulles at 21:51, arrives Kuwait the following day at 16:50. Thursdays, Saturdays, and Mondays: UAL 981 departs Kuwait at 00:35, arrives Dulles the same day at 06:27. ******************************************** For more Embassy Kuwait reporting, see: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Or Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ******************************************** LeBaron