Kuwait Airways has taken delivery of its first A330-200 and will begin scheduled operations with the type from the middle of next month. The airline had initially set a May 20, 2015 launch date for the widebodied jet, but delays with the handover of the first aircraft and pre-service entry trials mean that this has now been rescheduled for July 17, 2015.

The aircraft, the first of five A330-200s it has agreed to lease, was delivered to Kuwait Airways on June 25, 2015. Its latest schedule inventory shows plans to use the aircraft on four weekly flights between Kuwait and Chennai from July 17, 2015; four weekly flights on the Kuwait – Rome – Paris CDG routing from July 18, 2015 on its daily Kuwait – London Heathrow service three days per week and on two of its three weekly rotations on the Kuwait – Frankfurt – Geneva route from August 5, 2015.

The arrival of the first A330-200 marks the latest stage of a fleet-renewal programme which will eventually include the arrival of new A350s and Boeing 777-300ERs. In February 2014, Kuwait Airways announced the lease of 12 Airbus aircraft including seven A320ceo (with first deliveries commencing late last year) and five A330-200s in addition to the purchase of 25 aircraft including 10 A350-900 and 15 A320neo Family aircraft.

Kuwait Airways is configuring its A330-200 fleet in a three-class configuration of 17 full-sleeper First Class modules, 30 Business Class and 165 Economy seats. Its chairman Rasha Al-Roumi said the introduction of the twinjet – which is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines – will generate “unbeatable” operating costs and offer “unrivalled” comfort.

“The delivery of our first A330-200 marks a key milestone towards enhancing our fleet,” said Al Rasha Al Roumi, chairman, Kuwait Airways. “The addition of this highly efficient aircraft to our fleet ultimately translates to unbeatable operating costs, best-in-class services, unrivalled comfort and will maintain our schedule integrity and assist in increasing our load factors”