The Directorate General of Civil Aviation released circular 58 to standardize disclosure of airport charges so passengers can identify each component of their ticket cost at the time of purchase. Abdullah Al-Rajhi the authority’s official spokesman explained that the fees are not all recent additions with several having been collected for some time and others introduced only lately. According to the circular this approach lets travelers verify charges against booking conditions especially when seeking refunds or cancellations.
Al-Rajhi stated that the measure forms part of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s work to defend passenger rights and increase openness in transactions with carriers and agencies. “This procedure comes within the efforts of the authority aimed at protecting the rights of travelers and enhancing the principle of transparency in the relationship between the traveler and airlines and travel and tourism agencies and enabling the traveler to view the details of the fees and refer to them when needed including when canceling the reservation or requesting a refund of the ticket value according to the terms and conditions applied to the ticket and the regulations governing that” he said. The circular obliges every airline and travel office in Kuwait to present the fee codes and amounts clearly and individually on every document issued.
The circular listed seven charges that together reach approximately 10 dinars per ticket including three dinars for departure two dinars for arrival two dinars in airport departure tax one dinar each for baggage weighing and passenger transit and 620 fils each for the passenger registration system and pre-arrival border security query system. Reports carried by Al-Anba indicated that these levels keep Kuwait among the countries with the lowest airport fees in the region. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation stressed that the detailed listing prevents any unapproved extras from being added without basis.
A 2021 ministerial decision had first established several of these passenger service fees at similar rates while aiming to match international airport practices balance operational expenses and support non-oil state revenues the authority recalled at the time. That earlier step also sought to upgrade facilities at Kuwait International Airport through the added income. The current circular extends that policy by focusing on full visibility rather than new amounts.
Al-Rajhi underlined that non-compliance will lead to referral to the complaints and arbitration committee under aviation market law. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation will continue its oversight to maintain clear procedures across the sector. Passengers can now consult the itemized information to support decisions on bookings and any subsequent claims.
