Kuwait's national carrier, Kuwait Airways, said on Monday that it has signed a deal to purchase eight aircrafts from the medium to long-range Airbus A330-800neo family.

The planes are much more fuel-efficient than their predecessors, Kuwait Airways' chairman Yousef Al-Jassem told KUNA, describing the deal as a step towards a large-scale fleet overhaul.

He said that the deal, which adds a wide array of neo aircrafts to Kuwait Airways' fleet, was the culmination of five months' worth of negotiations, with the company set to receive the complete order no later than the tail end of 2026. On a newly-opened terminal at Kuwait International Airport, he revealed that Kuwait's flag carrier will launch flights to Europe out of the terminal starting next week, followed by other destinations in the Indian subcontinent and Asia Pacific, in addition to Iran and the United States.

Kuwait Airways' chairman added that the new terminal solely serves the national carrier, thanking the Kuwaiti government for their steadfast support over the years.

Airbus' Chief Operations Officer Christian Shearer hailed the deal as productive endeavor that would bring both sides closer together, acknowledging Kuwait Airways as among the most reputable airlines in the world. He added that Airbus' relationship with Kuwait Airways dates back years, hoping that the deal would be launchpad for closer ties.