Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways have resumed operations at Kuwait International Airport after a temporary airspace closure, the two carriers said on June 3, state media reported.
Kuwait Airways said it had restarted scheduled operations from Terminal 4 and was reorganising flights disrupted by the closure, in coordination with the relevant authorities following an alleged missile or drone crashing into the terminal building, according to information and video see nby Emerging Travel.
Acting chief executive officer Abdulwahab Al-Shatti said the airline had activated approved emergency procedures following developments earlier in the day, working with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to maintain safety and security standards.
Al-Shatti said the measures included postponing several inbound and outbound flights in line with safety protocols, and that the carrier had handled the situation under pre-prepared contingency plans. He said the decision to resume came after confirmation of full operational readiness and clearance from civil aviation authorities.
The airline reopened all passenger check-in counters and increased staffing to speed up procedures and reduce delays. Passengers whose bookings were affected have been allowed to cancel or reschedule without change or cancellation fees.
Jazeera Airways said it had resumed commercial operations from Terminal 5 after receiving full security clearance. Chief executive officer Barathan Pasubathy said some flights might still face delays or cancellations given the evolving situation, and advised passengers travelling on June 3 to check their flight status on the airline’s website before heading to the airport.
Pasubathy said passenger safety remained the airline’s highest priority and thanked customers for their patience, adding that assistance was available through the airline’s website, mobile application and customer service channels.
What this means for trade?
The incident, already allegedly denied by Iran’s military, is the most recent event in a worsening situation in recent days across the Gulf. However, so far it appears limited in its effect with operations restarting fairly quickly, suggesting this is a limited incident and not part of a spike in regional tensions.