Wataniya Airways expects break even in 2011

“We have a three-year business plan and expect to break even in that three-year period,” he said.

He expects to make a decision in July on whether or not the carrier will need to expand its fleet through aircraft purchases and was upbeat about the carrier’s performance so far.

“I’m encouraged by the reaction of the market to the service so we are reasonably optimistic that against the failry cautious budget, we’ll do quite well,” he added.

Cooper said that Wataniya is not facing financial problems because in 2006 it had an initial public offering that raised the KD50million.  “We are not needing to go to the banks for financing,” he said.

Cooper explained that in July the airline’s board would decide on aircraft purchases although he declined to say how many or from which airframer.

“There are many aircraft available and of course we will look at what's available at the time that we make the choice and start talking to various vendors," he said

Wataniya Airways, which started operations in January, has two leased Airbus A320s, and will receive two more in 2009, and three in 2010, he said. The carrier is still committed to $250-$300 million in leasing deals with Kuwait's Aviation Lease & Finance Co, Dutch firm AerCap and US firm International Lease Finance Corporation, it said in November.