Kuwait reopens airspace following temporary suspension

• Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced the reopening of Kuwait International Airport starting Thursday.
• The resumption will be gradual, initially focusing on specific routes to ensure operational safety.
• The closure, in effect since February 28, followed regional tensions and reported damage to airport facilities.

Kuwait has officially reopened its airspace at Kuwait International Airport starting Thursday, ending a temporary precautionary suspension that had been in place since February 28 due to escalating regional tensions.

Phased resumption of flights

Sheikh Eng. Humoud Mubarak Al-Sabah, President of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the reopening is part of a deliberate, phased plan coordinated with relevant international authorities.

The initial phase will include flights to specific destinations based on operational priorities to ensure the highest safety and security standards.

Sheikh Humoud emphasized that each operational phase will undergo continuous evaluation before the airport expands its flight network and transitions to full operations in the coming period.

Facility repairs and regional context

The reopening follows a period of assessment and repairs at the airport. Sheikh Humoud noted that the DGCA has completed its inspection of damage to certain airport facilities, which he attributed to an attack by Iran and its affiliated armed factions.

Technical teams have already begun maintenance and repair work on operational equipment and infrastructure to guarantee full readiness.

Gratitude for regional cooperation

The DGCA President expressed gratitude to neighboring nations for their assistance during the nearly two-month closure. He specifically thanked Saudi Arabia for its support in facilitating the operation of Kuwaiti carriers through its airports, highlighting the strong bilateral ties.

Furthermore, he commended the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries for their joint coordination regarding unified airspace, which helped maintain regional air traffic continuity during the crisis.

Concluding his remarks, Sheikh Humoud praised the efforts of all aviation workers, government agencies, and Kuwait's political leadership in expediting the airport's recovery and operational readiness.