Kuwait based Jazeera Airways will later this month launch premium economy on their London bound A320neo flights.

Kuwait’s second national airline behind the much larger Kuwait Airways has announced the first long-haul, low-cost route to London from the Middle East.

Using its one Airbus A320neo, the airline has configured the aircraft for three classes of service for its Kuwait City-London Gatwick service starting on October 27th.

Jazeera Airways plans to not sell the middle seat in premium economy

As the northern hemisphere’s winter season starts to kick in, the low-cost-carrier will, unusually for a budget airline, offer what it calls “premium economy seating”. This, in effect, means simply blocking off the middle seat.

With its single-aisle 3-3 seating configuration, the airline has decided that by not selling the middle seat it will give passengers more space and privacy.

The pitch of the seats in Jazeera Airways premium economy seats will be set at 31 inches, which is the middle ground when compared to 33 inches in business class and 29/30 in economy.

The flight to London will take just over six hours

In another step up from flying the bare-bones economy fare, premium economy class passengers will have their own dedicated check-in desk, be given priority boarding and receive a hot meal during the just over six-hour flight.

jazeera aireays airbus A320
Premium economy passengers get a 40kg baggage allowance. Photo: Anna Zvereva via Flickr

To make it easier for passengers traveling with larger bags, Jazeera Airways is offering its premium economy passengers a hefty 40kg (88 lb) baggage allowance. This is just 10kg short of what business class passengers are allowed to bring with them.

Jazeera Airways is betting big on its London flights. It is expecting to do well considering London's popularity with Kuwaitis and the number of Kuwaiti students studying in the UK.

Before operating a flight to Europe, the LCC focused on the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent. The new Kuwait City to London Gatwick flight marks the first new service from Kuwait to the United Kingdom in 55 years.

Jazeera’s flights to London will arrive in London Gatwick Airports South Terminal from where passengers can catch the Gatwick Express train to Victoria Station in central London.

Jazeera Airways have done their homework when it comes to scheduling by arranging the flights to depart Kuwait International Airport (KWI) early in the morning and arrive in London just in time for lunch. Flights on Saturday will depart a little later and arrive at mid-afternoon in London.

A320neo
Tariffs on $7.5bn of goods will be imposed. Photo: Airbus

This will be the first new service to the UK from Kuwait in 55 years. Landing at London Gatwick Airport South Terminal, where access to the Gatwick Express train connects passengers directly to central London, the airline has scheduled timings conveniently leaving early mornings from Kuwait and landing just in time for lunch in London, or mid-afternoon on Saturdays.

When speaking about the airline's new route website Travel Daily Media quotes the chairman of Jazeera Airways Marwan Boodai as saying:

“What better way to continue our expansion in 2019 than to announce London as a new destination of the year. This is a first for a low-cost carrier in the Middle East to fly long-haul, using our new A320neo aircraft. We expect high demand for the route.”

Meanwhile, in the same article the United Kingdom’s ambassador to Kuwait Michael Davenport spoke about the Kuwait to London flights saying:

 “It is really encouraging, as we mark the 120th anniversary of the Kuwaiti-British Treaty of Friendship, to see more Kuwaitis visiting Britain and studying at British universities than ever before.”

Jazeera Airways' new route to London is certainly interesting and could prove popular if priced right. What do you think about a six-hour plus flight on a narrowbody plane? Please let us know in the comments.