Kuwait to resume commercial flights Saturday, August 1
Commercial flights to restart after five months of suspension
Dubai: Kuwait International Airport will resume commercial flights Saturday, August 1, after five months of suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, local media reported.
On June 29, Kuwaitآ’s Cabinet approved a three-stage plan to resume commercial flights in and out of Kuwait Airport starting August 1, 2020.
The plan took into account the importance of adhering to the preventive and precautionary measures issued by the health authorities, as they will be applied to travelers through approved measures that must be followed that would protect travelers and workers in this field from contracting the virus.
The first stage starts next Saturday and will last for six months, with an operation of no more than 30 percent, the expected number of passengers not to exceed 10,000 per day, and the expected maximum number of flights is 100 per day.
The second stage starts on February 1, 2021, and also lasts six months with an operating rate of no more than 60 percent and the expected number of passengers not to exceed 20,000 per day and the expected maximum number of flights is 200 per day.
Regarding the third and final phase, it starts on August 1, 2021, with 100 percent operation, the expected number of passengers is more than 30,000 daily, and the expected maximum number of flights is 300 per day.
On July 21, Kuwait Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a health protocol for commercial operation at Kuwait International Airport and a guide for representatives of the executive authorities to restart commercial flights.
In a statement to KUNA, DGCA Director-General Yousef Al Fawzan said that the protocol includes all procedures pertaining to random inspection places for arrivals and the procedures for arrival and departure from Kuwait International Airport.
He added that the departing passengers must provide the travel requirements for the country they are traveling to.
Al Fawzan stated that the instructions included the necessity to book tickets online or by phone and receive them via e-mail to avoid the use of paper tickets and the concomitant infection. Citizens must provide travel health insurance that covers the treatment of coronavirus infection, he added.
He pointed out that all arriving passengers will be subjected to 14 days home quarantine.