Kuwait City: Based on a recent directive by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), non-Kuwaiti travellers are not allowed to enter the Kuwait airport, which includes transit passengers changing flights in the Gulf state, local media reported.
The decision came in the form of a letter from the Ministry of Health on February 19, stating that transit passengers are not allowed to exit the plane and enter the Kuwait airport.
As Kuwait implements further health measures to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the airport and travellers have seen some of the biggest changes.
Airport and closures
Since February 7, non-Kuwaitis have been barred from entering Kuwait and the decision was extended earlier this week until further notice.
In addition, on Monday the government announced that starting on February 24 Kuwait will close it’s land and sea borders until March 20.
The Director of the Air Transport Department at the DGCA, Abdullah Al Rajhi, issued a circular stating that as of March 7, the Kuwait International Airport will operate 24 hours. The decision comes after the airport reduced its capacity back in January to curb the spread of the COVID-19. Since then, the airport has been only accepting a maximum of 1,000 passengers a day.
As Kuwaiti travellers looking to return home, they can travel to Kuwait via the airport but they must undergo seven-days of mandatory quarantine in a hotel at their own expense. Then, they need to quarantine an additional seven-days at home.
