KUWAIT: Passengers aboard Jazeera Airways flights will be able to use their mobile phones, blackberries and email starting 2009, the company announced in a press statement. Jazeera Airways will be one of the first airlines in the world to equip its entire fleet with technology that enables travelers to use their mobile gadgets during flights. The announcement was made during a joint press conference with NBK Capital, acting as listing advisors, on the eve of Jazeera Airways' listing of shares on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) last month. Jazeera Airways is the only airline in the Middle East that is neither owned nor subsidized by any government, according to the press statement. Chairman and CEO Marwan Boodai said, "We are excited to be one of the first airlines in the world to install the technology that allows travelers to use their mobile phones during flight. The new service will be available to all passengers for a fee, and will empower passengers to continue communicating with their families or their office while on board. NBK Capital CEO Salah Al Fulaij said, "We are very proud to partner with Jazeera Airways in their listing, which is the first listing of an airline on the KSE and the first government-free airline ever to be listed on a stock exchange in the Middle East. He added, "Jazeera Airways brings a breath of fresh air to traders and investors alike. It has a unique business model that works to maximize operational revenue and has a great track record with a profitable financial performance in 2006 - its first full year, and the first 9 months of 2007. Jazeera Airways launched commercial operations in October 2005 operating to five destinations. Since then, it has added 25 non-stop routes, operated from a primary hub in Kuwait and a secondary hub in Dubai. The airline ended 2006 with $8.7 million profit, carrying 600,000 passengers in 2006 and 1.2 million in 2007. Jazeera Airways has a capital of $75 million and is listed on KSE with the ticker "Jazeera.
