Delay in approving vaccination certificates for stranded expats prompts to postpone reservations

KUWAIT CITY, Jul 31: The prices of airline tickets on flights coming to Kuwait have doubled due to limited operating capacity. The prices have reached almost 500%. The ticket prices coming from Dubai rose to KD 500 as tickets have been sold out. Ticket prices from Beirut to Kuwait increased to KD 200, while Turkey to Kuwait reached KD 350.

 A member of the Federation of Tourism and Travel Offices, Abdul Rahman Al-Kharafi stated that prices have doubled from 200% to 400% due to failure in increase of operations knowing that expats are allowed to enter from 1st Aug, reports Al Rai. Al Kharafi further stated that some airlines have over booked beyond the allotted quota. Till the last moment the quota was not allowed to increase hence due to this some reservations had to be cancelled which led to increased burden of travellers who were in third countries on transit. 

Muhammad Sabah in charge of travel office stated that failure to increase airport capacity lead to increase the prices of tickets 7 times the normal price from some destinations.

Kharafi further stated that delay in approving vaccination certificates for those outside Kuwait has prompted many travelers to postpone their reservations. There was a big question mark about not allowing direct flights from some countries such as Egypt and India. He called out to authorities to reconsider these destinations.

Meanwhile, The Directorate General of Civil Aviation stated that arriving Kuwaitis who have been vaccinated with one or two doses of approved vaccines in Kuwait or those who have recovered from COVID 19 infection not exceeding 90 days are subjected to home quarantine.