Flying troubles: Here’s why Kuwait Airways’ CEO quit and 14 airlines left the airport
Governance crises, delays, and regulatory hurdles cited as key obstacles to growth
Dubai: Things aren't always smooth if you have flown in or out of Kuwait lately. There are long waits, old terminals, or fewer flight options than you'd expect compared to major aviation hubs Dubai or Doha.
And according to aviation experts, this isn't bad luck – it's due to bigger problems holding back Kuwait's aviation industry.
Last week, Kuwait’s national carrier announced it is under new leadership after CEO Ahmad al-Kreebani was dismissed, just as 14 major airlines pulled out of the country’s airport network even as they maintain or expand routes to other major regional airports.
British Airways ended its daily flights to Kuwait in March after more than six decades of service. The move followed similar withdrawals by Germany’s Lufthansa in September and the Netherlands’ KLM earlier.
Saj Ahmad, Chief Analyst at StrategicAero Research, said Kuwait has little to offer and that Kuwait Airways is not a real rival to Emirates, Etihad, or Qatar Airways.
He added, “Unless someone specifically travels to Kuwait, there’s little to no reason to transit or serve the country – it simply doesn’t have the population, demand or connectivity of other GCC airports. And airlines are making more money outside of Kuwait than being stationed there.”
What’s going wrong?
Linus Benjamin Bauer, Founder and Managing Director of Bauer Aviation Advisory (BAA), told Gulf News that what should have been a strategic asset for national growth remains weighed down by “institutional inertia, regulatory bottlenecks, and inconsistent leadership.”
Troubles at the national airline: “The recent dismissal of Kuwait Airways CEO Ahmad Al-Kreebani is emblematic of a broader pattern of instability, fragmentation, and misalignment that continues to hamper Kuwait’s aviation industry,” said Bauer.
Ahmad Al-Kreebani, removed in May 2025 after just two years in the role, was dismissed following a scathing intervention by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The regulator cited repeated failures to meet safety standards and correct regulatory deficiencies. "His ousting is not merely a personnel change - it reflects a deeper governance vacuum at Kuwait Airways," explained Bauer.
Analysts believe the change at the top of Kuwait Airways highlights serious airline management issues. They point to frequent leadership changes that disrupt operations and damage trust with international aviation partners. There are also tensions with government regulators, where it's unclear if they oversee or interfere too much.
The airline's main board is also seen as weak, lacking independence and accountability, according to the aviation expert.
Airlines don’t team up: Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways operate under fundamentally different models - state-owned legacy vs. private LCC - with minimal coordination. “Rather than complement each other, they compete over limited market space, with no integrated national aviation strategy to guide growth or connectivity,” said Bauer.
Infrastructure paralysis: Terminal 2 remains delayed, over budget, and politically sensitive. Management and operational control remain unresolved. The fact that Jazeera built its terminal to avoid public sector delays underscores the dysfunction of national infrastructure planning, explained Bauer.
Slow government rules: The DGCA often makes it slow and complicated for airlines to get approvals for new routes or airport slots. Regional peers like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have leapfrogged Kuwait by liberalising and modernising policy frameworks.
No clear goal: Kuwait lacks a clear vision of what it wants its aviation sector to achieve: hub ambition, tourism gateway, or domestic enabler.
Why are airlines flying away?
The growing exodus - or scaling back - of international carriers from Kuwait International Airport is a direct consequence of a deteriorating operational and strategic environment.
Here’s a breakdown of the key factors driving this trend, analysed by Bauer's BAA and Partners:
The main terminal is outdated and is functioning overcapacity. This leads to frequent delays, bottlenecks, and suboptimal turnaround times
With Jazeera Airways operating its own terminal and Terminal 2 undergoing completion, airlines don't always have clear instructions on gate assignments (where to park their planes) and service standards.
Airlines that offer a premium service (like business or first class) find that the airport doesn't provide the comfortable lounges or smooth transfer process their passengers expect.
Unlike major hubs like Dubai or Doha, Kuwait offers limited connecting traffic, poor transit facilities, and minimal interline agreements. For most international airlines, the airport in Kuwait generates point-to-point demand only—and often at thin yields
Airlines face slow, opaque processes for slot allocation, route approvals, and handling agreements.
The state has no aggressive tourism policies, no open skies agreements, and a limited expatriate catchment base compared to its regional peers. Moreover, Kuwait’s visa and entry policies are less welcoming than competitors trying to become major travel destinations
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