KUWAIT CITY, 24 November 2005 — State-owned Kuwait Airways Corp. (KAC) has won a lawsuit ordering Iraqi Airways to pay more than $319 million in invasion-related compensation, an official said yesterday. “The amount will be in excess of $400 million when interest is calculated,” KAC spokesman Adel Buresli told AFP.
The ruling was issued by a British court last week. The damages were awarded by the court for four Kuwaiti passenger aircraft stolen by the Iraqi carrier during the 1990-91 occupation of the emirate and which were destroyed during the Gulf War, he said. So far, KAC has won damages worth $750 million for stolen aircraft and spare parts since filing lawsuits against the Iraqi carrier in 1991, Buresli said. The amount along with interest is currently estimated at $980 million, he said.
The emirate has so far not received any part of the compensation and is awaiting the formation of a permanent legitimate government in Baghdad. In 2000, KAC won $795 million in damages from a case filed in London against insurance companies.
In October 2003, Kuwait turned down an out-of-court settlement by Iraqi Airways which offered to pay $150 million for a lawsuit demanding $890 million. KAC operates a fleet of 15 Airbus and two Boeing 777 aircraft.