Kuwait International Airport is set to expand operations from Terminal 4 as Arab and international airlines begin flights there, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said on July 18, 2026. The shift is intended to enhance efficiency and passenger services amid growing demand, according to an Arab Times report.
The Arab Times reported that the initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to optimize airport functions and handle increasing travel volumes while upholding service standards. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is collaborating with airport stakeholders to integrate the carriers without disruption. Officials highlighted that the terminal’s modern setup will support smoother flows and reduced congestion at the main facilities. Terminal 4 first opened in 2018 after a rapid 15-month construction period to address capacity shortfalls, an AECOM project summary stated.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation figures show passenger traffic at Kuwait International Airport reached 15.6 million in 2023, with arrivals totaling 7.9 million. The authority has separately confirmed the resumption of services by carriers including Qatar Airways, Emirates, Gulf Air and Oman Air at Terminal 4 to maintain connectivity. Coordination continues to finalise schedules, and passengers are urged to verify flight details before travel. The terminal was built to accommodate an extra 4.5 million passengers annually, according to the AECOM assessment.
Kuwait Airways has also expanded its own presence at the terminal, adding 13 routes in a second phase announced in early May 2026 that brought its total operational destinations from Terminal 4 to 29. The national carrier’s Acting CEO Abdulwahab Al-Shatti oversaw the rollout to destinations spanning Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The airline is following a phased plan that factors in security and civil aviation requirements, the company said in a statement. This step aligns with broader recovery in flight numbers after earlier operational constraints.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation noted that the Terminal 4 expansion supports continuity of services for both citizens and residents. Recent moves include partial resumption of foreign airline operations following safety evaluations at the airport. The authority continues to monitor integration to uphold safety protocols across all terminals. Engineering evaluations confirmed the terminal’s flexible gate system can support further carrier growth, the original AECOM design review found.
Further adjustments at the airport have included resumed Kuwait Airways flights to locations such as London, Paris, Dubai, Bangkok and Mumbai from the facility. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has emphasised that all changes prioritise operational safety and efficiency. Passenger volumes have rebounded since 2021 levels, when the total stood at 3.56 million according to earlier DGCA data. The current measures aim to distribute traffic more evenly as demand stabilises at pre-pandemic scales.
