Kuwait Airways resumed limited flight operations from Terminal 4 at Kuwait International Airport on April 26, 2026, one day after authorities declared the airspace safe for commercial traffic following a 55-day closure linked to Iranian retaliatory strikes and regional tensions that began in early March. The national carrier initially deployed 35 flights during the first week to 17 international destinations as it started the complex task of rescheduling services that had been diverted to Saudi Arabian airports during the shutdown. Acting CEO Abdulwahab Al-Shatti outlined the restart parameters in statements to the Kuwait News Agency, noting that the phased return would prioritize key routes while full capacity at the main terminal remained under assessment.
The initial network includes daily flights to Cairo along with four weekly services to both Jeddah and Dhaka, Al-Shatti told KUNA. Other destinations set for the opening phase encompass London, Istanbul, Mumbai, Manila and Riyadh among points in Europe, Asia and the Gulf region. The airline has indicated that additional routes will join the schedule in coming weeks once operational assessments confirm readiness at the airport facilities.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation had closed Kuwait’s airspace on March 1, 2026, after strikes caused damage to airport infrastructure and disrupted regional air navigation, according to multiple aviation reports. Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways shifted the bulk of their operations to Saudi facilities for the duration of the 55-day period to maintain limited connectivity. Safety inspections and repairs preceded the April 24 reopening announcement by the civil aviation authority, which coordinated the gradual return of commercial traffic.
Jazeera Airways concurrently restarted services to nine destinations from Terminal 5 on the same day, official updates confirmed. The dual-carrier resumption from separate terminals marks an initial step toward restoring pre-crisis activity levels at Kuwait International Airport. Authorities have restricted the early phase to essential routes to ensure compliance with updated safety protocols following the period of diverted operations.
Al-Shatti emphasized that the airline would monitor demand and infrastructure readiness closely during the restart. The acting CEO added that high-traffic routes such as Cairo received priority in the daily allocation. Further timetable expansions are anticipated as more aircraft return to Kuwait-based operations and passenger rebooking requests are processed.
Early in the closure period, 62 flights were cancelled in a single day, according to local reports, leaving hundreds of passengers to seek alternative arrangements. The extended disruption affected thousands of travelers and contributed to reduced capacity across Gulf aviation routes for nearly two months. Kuwait Airways has directed affected customers to consult its official channels for updated itineraries, refunds or rebooking options tied to the new schedule.
