
‘Don't let the company down'
Regent Aerospace, a leading American company globally accredited by various official and international bodies, has chosen Kuwait as its regional headquarters, a decision that is hopefully well-studied. The company specializes in manufacturing aircraft interior components, including seats, galleys, lavatories, sidewalls, ceiling panels, power supply panels, overhead bins, entertainment systems, and cargo holds and trolleys. Founded in 1993, Regent Aerospace provides services to commercial airlines, leasing companies, and aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) companies. The company offers a wide range of services and spare parts to support maintenance operations, from complete cabin redesigns and comprehensive overhauls to spare parts for ongoing maintenance needs.
Regent Aerospace, headquartered in Valencia, California, employs a global workforce and is the world's largest independent company in its field. It offers a full range of engineering capabilities, including a team of FAA-certified aircraft manufacturers who oversee the production of vacuum-formed plastic components, fire-resistant foam pads, and mechanical and electrical systems. The company also maintains an FAA certified laboratory for testing material flammability, enabling it to secure approvals at record speed. Regent Aerospace may not be a large company, but it is a leader in its field and could be the first American company in years to choose Kuwait as its regional headquarters. We must ensure that we don't let the company down, especially given the reputational challenges Kuwait faces as a country that has struggled to attract international businesses and retain talent.
I hope Regent Aerospace marks a positive step forward, even if the path ahead may not be easy. Based on an agreement with Kuwait Airways, Regent Aerospace will soon begin the maintenance, refurbishment, and furnishing of Kuwait Airways' aircraft cabins. Kuwait Airways Chair and CEO Captain Abdulmohsen Al-Faqan announced that the airline has provided logistical support to Regent Aerospace in establishing its regional center in Kuwait. This move is aimed at enhancing the company's services in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Middle East, and North Africa. The agreement promises economic benefits and strengthens Kuwait's position in the aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector. We extend our gratitude to our brother Abdulmohsen and appreciate Kuwait Airways' role in selecting Regent Aerospace as its regional headquarters in Kuwait.
In an article I wrote last Thursday, I mentioned that the contracting company CAT built the Al-Sabah Hospital complex, which was once the largest in the region. However, I inadvertently omitted the fact that the company also established the iconic Shuwaikh High School, which opened 72 years ago and was, for decades, the largest educational complex in the Middle East. Shuwaikh High School was built on a cost-plus-15 percent basis. I employed the same method in constructing more than 80 villas in the 1980s when I was active in the construction contracting business, a field I bid an early farewell to, with no regrets.
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