KUWAIT- Kuwait Airways has increased the number of planes it plans to purchase from Airbus to 31 from 28, the chairman of the company told a news conference in Kuwait City, estimating the value of the deal at $3 billion.

The order is for nine Airbus A320neo, six A321neo, three A321neo LR, four A330-800neo, seven A330-900neo and two A350-900, he said.

CEO Ma'an Razoq told Reuters in November that the airline was seeking aircraft capable of operating longer, non-stop flights so it could expand in Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia and North America. 

(Reporting by Ahmed Hagagy, writing by Maher Chmaytelli; editing by Jason Neely) ((Maher.Chmaytelli@thomsonreuters.com;))