Jazeera Airways today announced its intention to begin daily services to London Gatwick, starting from October 27th this year. The airline will use its one and only A320neo.The move spells the first-ever non-stop budget route between the UK and the Gulf. Jazeera Airways Chairman Marwan Boodai also claims it is the newest service between the UK and Kuwait in 55 years.Jazeera Airways told us its launch of the London byway is the start of ambitious expansion throughout Q3 and Q4. The airline revealed it intends to take delivery of three more A320neos in order to bolster its “robust presence in the active Middle East market and the aviation industry at large.”According to Business Traveller, tickets begin at a lofty £370 return, despite competitors BA and Kuwait offering a Heathrow service (and complimentary catering) for only £30 more. Nevertheless, Jazeera is confident its low-cost approach will bring custom.

Writes Business Traveller, Mr Boodai, said, “Jazeera Airways has been building a great reputation in the Middle East in the low cost airline sector, offering a strong alternative to the legacy airlines.

“We look forward to serving the UK market, and extending consumer choice to Kuwait and the Gulf, with our value proposition. This is a first for an LCC in the Middle East to fly long-haul, using the A320neo aircraft.”

Jazeera ethos

Jazeera makes a bit of a habit of breaking and entering:

• In 2004 it became the first airline in the Middle East not to be owned by a state government.
• The Jazeera hub facility (T5) at Kuwait international airport is said to be the first one of its kind “owned, built and operated by a private airline in the Middle East.”
• Jazeera took delivery of the first Middle Eastern Airbus A320neo in June of the same year.

The airline is now the State of Kuwait’s second national airline. According to a spokesperson for the airline, over 1.1 million passengers have passed through T5 since it became operational.

Flight specifics

The full schedule for flights between Gatwick and Kuwait looks like this:

J9-001 Monday KWI LGW 08:40 12:45

J9-002 Monday LGW KWI 13:55 23:15

J9-001 Tuesday/Wednesday KWI LGW 08:40 12:45

J9-002 Tuesday/Wednesday LGW KWI 13:45 23:05

J9-001 Thursday KWI LGW 08:35 12:40

J9-002 Thursday LGW KWI 13:45 23:05

J9-001 Friday KWI LGW 07:40 11:45

J9-002 Friday LGW KWI 14:00 23:20

J9-001 Saturday KWI LGW 11:00 15:05

J9-002 Saturday LGW KWI 16:40 02:00*

J9-001 Sunday KWI LGW 06:45 10:50

J9-002 Sunday LGW KWI 12:35 21:55

The route is thought to measure 3,000 miles due to various airspace restrictions. As a consequence passengers should expect a 6-hours 20-min eastbound flight and a 7-hours 5-mins return. The airline claims it will be the longest flight flown by the A320 neo.

Business class tickets include a 33-inch seat pitch, premium economy 31-inch and economy 29-inch.

Expansion

Jazeera announced a 335% growth in revenue in the first half of this year. That has buoyed the optimism of the carrier’s executive, which promises even more routes added to the airline's network by year-end helped by the much-anticipated arrival of the A320neos.

In addition to its Gatwick route, the airline is already selling tickets to Bodrum, Istanbul, Kathmandu, Dhaka and Karachi.

Reports Routes Online, Chairman Boodai said: “The introduction of the fuel-saving and new noise-reduction engine aircraft to our growing fleet supports our continued network expansion to cover destinations that increase our flying radius from Kuwait up to 6.5 hours.”