KUWAIT CITY, Dec 2: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has warned licensed air operators about the dangers of violating the Environmental Protection Law No. 42/2014 and its amendments regarding the ban on smoking in transportation, revealing that penalties could reach up to KD 200,000. According to informed sources, DGCA sent a reminder to air operators about the Environmental Protection Law after receiving multiple reports of smoking incidents involving both flight crews and passengers during flights.

These actions contravene paragraph one of article 56 of the law, which prohibits smoking in public transportation, and Article 138, which stipulates the imposition of large fines for violations. The law imposes fines ranging from KD 50,000 to KD 200,000 on anyone who violates the aforementioned smoking ban law, along with strict legal accountability. DGCA has urged air operators to take firm measures to ensure compliance, including instructing crew members to refrain from smoking and informing passengers of the law during flights. The sources stressed that smoking-related penalties should be incorporated into safety guidelines to enhance passenger adherence to the rules. In other news, recent statistics issued by the Central Statistical Bureau revealed a 29.17 percent increase in the movement of arriving and departing aircraft from 2014 to 2023.

The number of aircraft in 2014 was approximately 83,443, and in 2023, this number increased to 117,822. According to the statistics, the COVID- 19 pandemic during the period from 2020 to 2021 resulted in a noticeable decrease in air traffic. The number of aircraft during these two years dropped to 30,215 and 35,215, respectively, which reflected the pandemic’s impact on the sector. There has also been a significant growth in passenger numbers over the past decade. Departing and arriving passengers increased from 10,129,821 in 2014 to 15,519,437 in 2023, marking a 34.7 percent increase. However, there was a substantial decline in 2020 and 2021, with passenger numbers falling to about 3.5 million, due to travel restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The statistics also revealed growth in the capacity of Kuwait International Airport. While it accommodated seven million passengers annually in 2015, its capacity reached 14 million passengers in 2023. Observers stressed the need to intensify efforts to modernize the infrastructure, improve service efficiency, and expedite the completion of the new passenger terminal. Meanwhile, the same statistics highlighted a noticeable increase in the number of direct travel destinations from Kuwait to international locations from 101 destinations in 2014 to 134 destinations in 2023, which is a 24.6 percent increase. Experts suggest that this expansion reflects the strengthening of air links between Kuwait and global airports, and the bolstering Kuwait’s position as a key hub for international travel. In addition, the statistics highlighted an increase in the size of the national fleet, as the number of aircraft increased from 29 in 2014 to 55 in 2023, marking an addition of 26 new aircraft in the past decade.

By Mohammed Al-Enezi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff