Mubasher: Kuwait Airways on Monday announced that it has signed an agreement with European planemaker Airbus after five months of negotiations.

The state-run carrier will buy eight A330-800neo aircraft, according to Kuwait Airways’ statement.

The agreement’s total cost amounted to $2 billion.

Kuwait Airways is expected to receive the new planes between March 2019 and the end of 2026 to replace the leased jets in its fleet, the Gulf carrier noted.

The new aircraft will “reduce the capital investment in the fleet with its new re-configuration and improved operation costs,” according to the statement.