Air Arabia has kept a reduced schedule on its Kuwait routes as the airport manages ongoing restrictions tied to infrastructure repairs, the carrier indicated in its latest travel update. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation directed the phased approach for foreign airlines following damage sustained in early 2026, limiting full operations across terminals. Several Air Arabia services from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi faced initial cancellations last week but a number were later reinstated after reviews of regulatory approvals. Passengers have been urged to verify bookings directly with the airline to avoid disruptions at check-in.
The airline’s advisory lists ongoing but selective connectivity to Kuwait amid elevated regional security considerations that have affected multiple carriers. According to updates from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, foreign operators including Air Arabia shifted to Terminal 4 starting in mid-June to support gradual resumption while Terminal 1 undergoes further assessments. This setup has enabled continued UAE-Kuwait links without full pre-conflict capacity. Air Arabia has coordinated closely with Kuwaiti authorities to align its timetable with available slots.
Kuwait International Airport suspended all civilian flights on February 28, 2026, after a series of incidents that damaged key facilities including radar systems. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced a phased reopening that began with local carriers in late April before expanding to international partners from June 1. Sheikh Humoud Mubarak Al-Sabah, president of the authority, stated that each stage would be evaluated for safety and operational readiness before progression. Subsequent reports indicated that more than a dozen foreign airlines had joined operations at Terminal 4 by late June.
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi and Sharjah services appear among those approved for Terminal 4 departures alongside carriers such as Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, a mid-June operational summary from airport authorities showed. The relocation followed completion of repairs and coordination with the Ministry of Interior to ensure seamless passenger processing at dedicated counters. Limited daily frequencies have replaced previous higher volumes on the Kuwait route while Terminal 2 preparations continue toward a planned November opening. The authority has maintained that full restoration depends on ongoing technical evaluations.
Recent regional tensions prompted additional schedule adjustments across Gulf carriers, with Air Arabia among those reporting both delays and cancellations on UAE-Kuwait sectors in late July and early September. The National reported that select Air Arabia flights between Abu Dhabi and Kuwait were cancelled on specific days although others operated as scheduled after reassessment. Similar patterns affected routes to Bahrain, underscoring the fluid nature of current approvals. Travellers have received notifications through airline channels advising against airport arrival without confirmed status.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has continued to issue circulars guiding airlines on compliance with the temporary measures at Kuwait International Airport. These instructions cover everything from slot allocations to passenger facilitation at active terminals. Air Arabia’s update emphasizes that all flights remain subject to final regulatory clearance and may change with short notice. Officials have reiterated the priority of safety in determining the pace of capacity expansion at the facility.
