Kuwait Airways issued a circular to partners in the cargo sector outlining temporary restrictions on shipments brought by agents to its facility, the carrier said in the document distributed earlier this week. The move took effect on September 9 and will remain in place through September 25 as the airline works to clear accumulated cargo and ease congestion at the export and import terminal adjacent to the new passenger building. According to the circular, agents should refrain from delivering standard shipments during this window, with processing of the existing backlog scheduled to begin immediately so that normal acceptance can resume afterward.
The restrictions stem from operational pressures at the cargo terminal, which the airline has said operates around the clock to handle general freight, perishables, dangerous goods and live animals. Kuwait Airways noted that the facility meets international standards and has invested in systems for real-time tracking and electronic airway bills to improve efficiency across its network. A company overview on its cargo portal indicated that these upgrades allow for better management of short connections and overall throughput even during peak periods.
Certain categories remain exempt from the temporary pause, the circular specified, allowing seamless continuation for special shipments, pure express mail and road feeder service transfers. These exceptions ensure that time-sensitive or priority cargo continues to move without interruption while the broader backlog is resolved. The airline emphasised that export and import functions overall stay active, countering any interpretation of the measure as a complete operational shutdown.
Global air cargo demand grew 3.4 percent in 2025 compared with the prior year, with international routes expanding 4.2 percent, according to figures compiled by the International Air Transport Association. IATA data further showed that December 2025 recorded a 4.3 percent year-on-year increase overall, underscoring sustained reliance on air freight for e-commerce, time-critical goods and supply chain adjustments across regions including the Gulf. For carriers such as Kuwait Airways, such volumes highlight the importance of maintaining reliable cargo services amid periodic capacity constraints.
The national carrier’s cargo division works with general sales agents across Europe, Asia and the Middle East to support its extensive route network, company records show. Kuwait Airways has positioned its freight services as a 24/7 operation capable of handling diverse cargo types even on holidays, with dedicated teams focused on timely departures from Kuwait International Airport. This latest adjustment arrives as the airline continues to manage post-pandemic recovery in both passenger and cargo segments, where efficient terminal use remains central to performance.
Industry observers monitor such measures for their potential ripple effects on regional logistics, though Kuwait Airways has not released specific volume data tied to the current backlog. The circular directed partners to prepare accordingly and indicated that full acceptance would restart after the clearance period ends on September 25. Separate carrier announcements have consistently urged reliance on official communications to avoid misinformation about service status.
