• 38.4% growth in 9M 2018 operating revenue
• 44.5% growth in 9M 2018 number of passengers

Kuwait, November 7, 2018: Jazeera Airways today announced its financial and operational results for the first nine months of 2018, reporting a 38.4% growth in operating revenue and a 44.5% growth in number of passengers in comparison to the same period last year. The Company’s net profit stood at KD8.5 million for the first nine months of 2018.

9M 2018 Financial and Operational Highlights:

(Adjusted 9M 2018 net profit of KD9.6 million accounting for KD885 thousand one-offs related to irregular events in 9M 2018 and KD287 thousand operating loss related to facilities operations)

• Operating revenue: KD63.7 million, up 38.4% from 9M 2017
• Operating profit: KD8.9 million, down 5.7% from 9M 2017
• Net profit: KD8.5 million, down 11.2% from 9M 2017
• Passengers: 1.5 million up 44.5% from 9M 2017
• Fleet utilization: 13.6 hours, up 23.6% from 9M 2017
• Load factor: 76.8%, up from 75.5% 9M 2017

3Q 2018 Financial and Operational Highlights:

(Adjusted 3Q 2018 net profit of KD7.8 million accounting for KD727 thousand one-offs related to irregular events in 3Q 2018 and KD123 thousand operating loss related to facilities operations)

• Operating revenue: KD29.2 million, up 31.7% from 3Q 2017
• Operating profit: KD7.6 million, down 12.2% from 3Q 2017
• Net profit: KD7.0 million, down 14.1% from 3Q 2017
• Passengers: 615,126 up 37.2% from 3Q 2017
• Fleet utilization: 14.8 hours, up 11.0% from 3Q 2017
• Load factor: 80%, up from 75.8% in 3Q 2017

Jazeera Airways Chairman, Marwan Boodai, said: “Operationally, fuel prices continued to increase in 3Q 2018, rising by 35% from 3Q 2017, and the competitive landscape remained strong. However, despite these challenges, our investments in expanding our offering and network continued to yield positive results.

“We ended the third quarter with zero debt. We tapped into a new segment of customers by launching new destinations to the Indian subcontinent, Tbilisi and Medinah, all while enhancing the travel experience through our dedicated terminal at Kuwait International Airport, the first passenger terminal owned by an airline in the Middle East. During the year, Jazeera Airways also took delivery of an A320 and the first A320neo to be delivered in the Middle East.”

The airline operated in 3Q 2018 its first full quarter from its new dedicated terminal, which carried 795,218 passengers since its inauguration. The Duty Free received final permits and started operations in October 2018. The airline also launched the Ride & Fly service enabling passengers to take a shuttle from various locations in Kuwait, register their luggage and check-in on-board the shuttle.

On routes serving its new destinations, Jazeera Airways grabbed a 50% market share on Kuwait-Tbilisi, 41% on Kuwait-Lahore, 51% on Kuwait-Ahmedabad, 19% on Kuwait-Mumbai, 32% on Kuwait-Kochi and 8.2% on Kuwait-Medinah.

Boodai concluded: “In the last quarter of the year, demand is expected to pick up during the end of year seasonal holidays in line with travel trends. Jazeera Airways also prepares to launch a new route ahead of the travel season, serving the Indian capital, New Delhi, while new retails offerings continue to open at our dedicated terminal.”

Jazeera Airways flies to 26 popular destinations across the Middle East, India and Europe comprising high-demand business, leisure, family and weekend destinations such as Dubai, Bahrain, Beirut, Alexandria, Amman, Istanbul, Sharm El Sheikh, Assiut, Luxor, Mashhad, Sohag, Jeddah, Riyadh, Madinah, Cairo, Al Najaf, Taif, Doha, Kochi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lahore, Baku and Tbilisi.

The airline operates a fleet of Airbus A320s and an Airbus A320neo, the first to be owned and operated in the Middle East.