Kuwait resumes direct flights to 12 countries

KUWAIT CITY, July 3: Yesterday, Kuwait resumed direct flights to 12 countries that were suspended for health and commercial reasons following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world, reports Al-Seyassah daily. The Cabinet had announced last Monday that it would allow direct flights to Britain, Spain, the United States, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, France, Kyrgyzstan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Greece and Switzerland. The Deputy Director-General for Planning and Projects Affairs and the official spokesperson for the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Saad Al- Otaibi, said the decisions to suspend and resume direct flights to some countries come based on the instructions of the health authorities, taking into account commercial considerations and losses suffered by the airlines, given the situation and the repercussions of the spread of the Corona virus in high-risk countries.

Al-Otaibi added the operating capacity for incoming flights at the Kuwait International Airport (KIA) now reaches approximately 3,500 passengers per day. He stressed Kuwaitis will not be allowed to travel outside the country unless they have received the two doses of the anti-Corona virus vaccine approved in Kuwait as of August 1, with the exception of those age groups who are not subject to vaccination and those who hold a certificate stating they cannot receive the vaccine for health reasons and pregnant women.

He stated expats will be allowed to enter the country as of August 1, provided that they have received two doses of the vaccine approved by Kuwait -- Pfizer, Oxford AstraZeneca or Moderna, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine, stressing at the same time on the importance of conducting the (PCR) test, first about 72 hours before arriving in the country and the other during home quarantine, (for seven days after arrival). Al-Otaibi stressed the necessity of registering all departures and arrivals to and from the Kuwait International Airport on the (Kuwait Passenger) platform in addition to the (Shlonak) application 24 hours before the departure so that the passenger does not face any technical problems at the arrival counter in Kuwait.

The entry at the KIA should be in compliance with health requirements including physical distancing inside the airport buildings, according to the instructions of the Kuwaiti health authorities. Meanwhile, Kuwait Airways Corporation announced the resumption of its flights to Geneva starting from July 9 which was included in its flight schedule with two flights per week — Monday and Friday, reports Al-Qabas daily. On its Twitter account, the corporation confirmed the resumption of its flights to Frankfurt starting from Aug 1 with two flights per week — Sunday and Wednesday. The corporation added that it will also resume its flights to Munich starting from July 17 with two flights per week — Thursday and Saturday.