Deficit budget passed for Kuwaiti national carrier

Revenues for the privatisation-bound airline are projected at $853 million while expenditure is estimated at 1.033 billion dollars. The fiscal year runs from April 1 to March 31, 2011.

KAC chairman Hamad al-Falah said the national carrier incurred a loss of $189 million in the previous fiscal year.

The carrier has posted a loss in all but one of the past 20 years, accumulating losses of more than $2.5 billion.

Parliament however rejected a recommendation from opposition MPs that called for suspending the privatisation of KAC until the accounting watchdog Audit Bureau conducts a probe into graft allegations in the airline.