Kuwait Aviation is in Big Trouble

It's beginning to dawn on travelers that something is off in Kuwait. Flying in and out of Kuwait has been challenging lately. Travelers face long waits, outdated terminals, and fewer flight choices, making for a frustrating experience. Compared to the modern efficiency of airports in Dubai and Doha, Kuwait’s aviation infrastructure feels in need of an upgrade.

But things have taken a turn for the worse. Between the dismissal of Kuwait Airways CEO Ahmad al-Kreebani and the withdrawal of 14 international airlines from Kuwait International Airport (KWI), flying through Kuwait has become a challenge for even the most patient of travelers. More than a challenge, people are beginning to question how they will be able to successfully function.

Since 2019, 14 international carriers have suspended their operations in Kuwait, including British Airways most recently, which ended its daily service from London in March 2025, concluding over six decades of operations.

This isn’t an isolated incident either. Germany’s Lufthansa withdrew last September, and the Netherlands’ KLM had pulled out earlier, and even prominent Asian players like Cathay Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Korean Air, and Royal Brunei Airlines likewise have exited Kuwait’s market.

Every single one of these airlines continues to serve other Gulf hubs, such as Doha, Dubai, and Riyadh. So what exactly is the problem? According to experts, Kuwait's lack of infrastructure and stagnant growth make it impossible to operate there. Passenger traffic at Kuwait International Airport declined by 1% in 2024, down to 15.4 million from 15.6 million the previous year.

When you look at airports in surrounding countries, which are experiencing double-digit growth on the back of aggressive expansion strategies and tourism-focused national visions, these are alarming numbers for Kuwait.

As gulf airpoirts boom, 14 airlines pull out of Kuwait

These problems come from a lack of strategic vision and bad leadership. Kuwait's main airport facilities are seen as outdated, and any efforts to solve the problem have been inconsistent.

For example, the construction of Terminal 2 at KWI, intended to increase capacity to 50 million passengers annually, remains over-budget and indefinitely delayed. The current target deadline is set for the last quarter of 2026, but it's anyone's guess as to when it's actually going to open.

On top of that, Premium international airlines, in particular, find that KWI doesn’t offer the high-end lounges, transit facilities, or smooth connections that their premium passengers expect.

Things got so bad that Kuwait’s secondary airline, Jazeera Airways, ended up financing its own dedicated terminal, T5, to avoid the quality issues at the main government-run terminals.

Kuwait's Terminal 2, currently under construction.

All of these issues led to Ahmed Al-Kreebani, who had spent just two years in the role of CEO, being removed just a few weeks ago in May after a scathing intervention by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

According to the regulator, under al-Kreebani, there were repeated failures to meet safety standards and correct regulatory deficiencies.

Instead Abdulwahab Al-Shatti, who previously served as Prior to this role, he served as the Director of Operations at Kuwait Airways, has been appointed as the new CEO. But is a change in leadership enough to make the cut?
The CEO might not be the problem. The DGCA has a reputation for being more of a roadblock to growth than anything else. Their slow and unpredictable processes for route permissions and slot allocations have hindered the growth of international partnerships.

A change in CEO isn't just a sign, clearly, the problem runs deeper than a bad figurehead. Kuwait’s aviation sector needs a massive overhaul, and it needs it now. The present climate is difficult, but Kuwait can still turn things around by improving infrastructure, keeping safety as a top priority, and creating an airport experience on par with its neighbors. If not, it will have to slash its dreams of being a significant middle eastern presence.

Even if Kuwait cannot be the hub it is hoping for, with the increasing travel to all of the middle east, I think it can position itself as a very strong partner or intermediary. I’m hopeful they can do it, but I’m not holding my breath. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.