New routes, bigger fleet key for Kuwait's aviation ambitions

Kuwait Times

a day ago

KUWAIT: Kuwait needs to modernize its national airline fleet and open new flight routes to boost efficiency and cement its role as a regional aviation hub, officials said Saturday night. At the one-day 'Future of Aviation in Kuwait' conference, Acting Director General of Civil Aviation Duaij Al-Otaibi emphasized that financial resources and qualified national expertise are in place to not only keep pace with global aviation developments, but to achieve excellence in the sector. 'The coming phase requires intensive efforts to develop the aviation sector at the levels of infrastructure, fleet, and logistics,' Al-Otaibi said, stressing that Kuwait's location between East and West, combined with local talent and financial capability, provides a solid foundation to transform the country into a regional aviation hub.
Al-Otaibi underscored the urgency of modernizing Kuwait Airways' fleet and expanding its destinations to match the sector's rapid growth. 'We need to upgrade the national carrier's fleet and enhance Kuwait Airways' network with more aircraft and routes. This will raise operational efficiency and expand destination reach,' he said.
Kuwait has injected nearly $5 billion into aviation infrastructure development, including Terminal 2 (T2), a new runway, control towers, ground services, and advanced meteorological and air navigation systems. The T2 terminal—designed to accommodate over 25 million passengers annually—is expected to launch operations by end of 2026, aiming to attract international airlines and relieve current travel bottlenecks. 'Expanding destinations toward East Asia—Japan, Indonesia, Korea, China, and Australia—and the West—South America, Los Angeles, Florida, and South Africa—is critical,' Al-Otaibi said. 'We must match global developments to remain competitive.'
Muhannad Al-Ayyar
Duaij Al-Otaibi
'Future is bright'
The conference comes at a time when travelers are facing increasing challenges due to the withdrawal of major European carriers from Kuwait, which has led to higher fares, long layovers, and fewer direct connections. Kuwait Times reported last month that the situation has disrupted holiday plans for many, especially during peak seasons like Eid, and contributed to a growing reliance on regional transit hubs in Doha and Dubai. A local frequent flyer, Talal Al-Fadhli, described recent travel options as exhausting: 'Some flights have layovers of over six to eight hours. Even budget airlines are unusually expensive,' he said in an interview.
Travel agent Mohamed Moustafa told Kuwait Times that the completion of T2 is set to improve the situation. 'Once T2 is operational, we'll see lower ticket prices and more passenger traffic. That will uplift the entire tourism and aviation sector,' he previously told Kuwait Times.
Speaking at the conference, Captain Muhannad Al-Ayyar, Chairman of the Kuwait Society of Pilots and Aviation Engineers, echoed calls to expand operations: 'The future of aviation in Kuwait is bright—if invested in with a strategic vision that strengthens Kuwait's regional standing in both passenger and cargo transport.'
Al-Ayyar emphasized the need to grow the fleet and add routes, recognizing its importance in reducing reliance on foreign airlines. 'Expanding our route network is essential, especially with more Kuwaitis and residents depending on non-Kuwaiti carriers,' he said.
The conference also spotlighted progress on major projects such as the Air Cargo City, which is expected to significantly boost Kuwait's role in global logistics, especially with the rise of e-commerce. This aligns with the government's 'New Kuwait Vision' to diversify the economy. 'If fully optimized, the aviation and port sectors could contribute over 30 percent to Kuwait's GDP and create up to 80,000 jobs over the next five years,' Al-Otaibi projected. — Agencies