Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has restored airport operations to around 190 flights daily as of June 22, 2026, following damage from an Iranian attack earlier in the month, according to Acting Director General Engineer Duaij Al-Otaibi. The official noted that gradual improvements in air traffic have come through ongoing repair and maintenance work supervised by the authority’s chairman and aligned with directives from the minister of defense. Al-Otaibi indicated that many airlines have resumed services, with further increases expected once rehabilitation of the main passenger terminal is completed.
According to Al-Otaibi, the Civil Aviation Authority carried out the recovery with the efforts of its employees and the support of the political leadership. “The authority continues to work to repair the damage caused to the airport building and its facilities,” he said. He added that operational levels have begun to rise with increasing numbers of incoming and outgoing flights after overcoming major challenges in line with directives from Minister of Defense Sheikh Abdullah Ali Al-Sabah. The work has been supervised by the authority’s chairman, Sheikh Hamoud Mubarak Al-Hamoud Al-Sabah.
Al-Otaibi praised the efforts of civil aviation employees and volunteers for their key role in restoring airport operations and serving the country during the emergency period. The acting director general expressed appreciation for the support and cooperation of the Ministry of Interior, the General Administration of Customs, Kuwait Airways, Jazeera Airways, KAFCO and all partners and service providers at the airport. He specifically thanked Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority for its cooperation and continued support for Kuwait’s Civil Aviation Authority. Appreciation was also voiced for the backing of Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Arab states.
In an announcement reported by Arab Times, Al-Otaibi said Kuwait had succeeded in presenting its legal and technical position before the International Civil Aviation Organization. This secured international support that confirmed the validity of its position regarding the attacks that targeted Kuwait International Airport. The support helped preserve Kuwait’s rights and confirmed serious violations and breaches of international agreements had occurred, he added.
The attack on June 3, 2026, involved Iranian drone and missile strikes on the airport that damaged Terminal 1 and led to a temporary closure of operations, an Aerotime.aero article stated. Kuwait’s health ministry reported one person was killed and at least 63 injured in the incident, including airport workers and passengers. Flights were diverted and the emergency plan activated before partial resumption from Terminal 4 shortly after, the civil aviation authority had stated. Authorities suspended air traffic completely in the immediate aftermath, according to multiple reports from that date.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation data places the number of aircraft movements at Kuwait International Airport at 210,010 for 2023, which equates to an average of approximately 575 flights per day. The same figures from the DGCA show passenger traffic reached 15.6 million that year, a 26 percent rise from 2022. In 2021, the total traffic of flights was 48,257 according to a DGCA statement, indicating steady growth in the sector prior to the 2026 attack. The airport serves as the primary hub for Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways, both of which resumed operations following initial safety assessments.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is responsible for managing the airport and compiling monthly and annual reports on air transport for submission to ICAO and other bodies, according to its official website. Al-Otaibi’s update reflects progress made less than three weeks after the strike disrupted regional air travel. Additional repair work on infrastructure continues under the authority’s oversight.
