COVID-19: Kuwait approves London flights

Cairo: Kuwait’s civil aviation authorities have reportedly approved operating direct flights to London starting later this month, as the country is planning to increase the traveller capacity of its airport amid eased restrictions against COVID-19.

On Thursday, Kuwait ended a health nighttime curfew that had been in force since March.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued approvals to the Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways to start flying to London with three flights a week starting May 22, a DGCA official source said.

The source expected that British Airways will request approval for operating direct flights with Kuwait in the coming period as the summer travel season sets in.

“Kuwait has no objection to direct British Airways flights to and from Kuwait,” the source told Al Anba newspaper.

Jazeera Airways, meanwhile, requested operating summer flights to Bosnia and Uzbekistan starting in late May, according to the source.

Kuwait said this week that beginning from May 22, the capacity of its airport will increase to 5,000 passengers per due to an anticipated increase in summer passenger traffic.

The airport has been operating on a 1,000 passenger cap per day since January.

Air passengers

“The DGCA will increase the numbers of air passengers arriving in Kuwait from the 35-passenger level per flight by May 22 to be commensurate with the decision to increase the airport operation capacity,” the source said.

“The number will be decided after the Eid Al Fitr holiday and after receiving notes from the Kuwait Airways and Jazeera on the proposed numbers,” the source added.

Kuwait has barred foreigners from entering the country since February until further notice as part of virus-controlled restrictions.