Kuwait Airways announced on April 17, 2026, that it would resume flights to Dhaka, Bangladesh, twice weekly via King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, with passengers making an overland journey through the Nuwaiseeb border crossing starting April 24. The carrier cited strong passenger demand for the route as it continues to adjust operations in response to regional circumstances that previously forced suspensions, according to a report by Arab Times.
Arab Times reported that the Dhaka service is part of a broader expansion through the Dammam hub that has already added connections to London, Cairo, Istanbul, Lahore, Amman, Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Chennai, Manila, Paris and Colombo. This strategy allows the airline to maintain network reach despite constraints at its home base. The approach has enabled continued service to key destinations across Asia, Europe and the Middle East while direct operations from Kuwait International Airport remained limited.
Captain Abdulwahab Ibrahim Al-Shatti said the resumption of the Dhaka route reflects strong passenger demand and the airline’s continued commitment to restoring and expanding key destinations. He noted that the carrier is working to ensure operational efficiency while maintaining smooth travel experiences for passengers. Al-Shatti added that the airline has mobilized resources to manage travel requests and continues to coordinate with relevant authorities inside and outside Kuwait to support its operational plans.
The acting CEO emphasized that passenger and crew safety remains a top priority in all adjustments. The announcement detailed assistance with Saudi Arabia visa applications for residents holding confirmed Kuwait Airways bookings. Promotional shopping offers in cooperation with Al-Khiran Mall were also highlighted for travelers on the route, and bookings can be made through the customer service call center, WhatsApp support or official sales offices.
The route had been among those suspended after Iranian retaliatory strikes closed Kuwaiti airspace in March 2026, an Aerotime.aero report found. Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways shifted operations to Saudi facilities for nearly 55 days before gradually returning to Kuwait International Airport on April 26. Once direct services restarted, frequency on the Dhaka route increased to four weekly flights, according to subsequent Kuwait Times coverage.
Kuwait Airways carried more than 5 million passengers in 2025, a 2.2 percent increase from the previous year, according to a Connecting Travel analysis. The Bangladesh connection serves a significant expatriate community, as workers from that country form a notable share of the labor force in Kuwait. Industry data from UNISCO placed annual passenger traffic at Kuwait International Airport at roughly 15.4 million in recent assessments, illustrating sustained demand for long-haul routes including those to South Asia.
