14 international airlines exit Kuwait airport as stagnation deepens

Dubai: As Gulf airports continue to post record gains in passenger and cargo traffic, Kuwait International Airport is confronting a period of stagnation, pushing several international airlines to suspend operations amid declining economic viability.

British Airways ended its daily flights to Kuwait in March after more than six decades of service. The move followed similar withdrawals by Germany’s Lufthansa in September and the Netherlands’ KLM earlier. Fourteen international airlines have ceased operations at Kuwait International Airport, even as they maintain or expand routes to other major regional airports.
Aviation analysts point to a combination of factors hampering Kuwait’s competitiveness: increased jet fuel prices, intensifying competition from regional aviation giants, and persistent shortcomings in airport infrastructure and passenger services. These challenges, observers say, have collectively diminished the airport’s appeal to global carriers.

Kuwait International Airport recorded a 1 per cent decline in passenger traffic in 2024, falling to 15.4 million from 15.6 million the previous year.
In contrast, neighbouring airports experienced robust growth. Dubai International Airport rose 5.7 per cent to 92.3 million passengers, Doha climbed 14.8 per cent to 52.7 million, Riyadh increased 17.8 per cent to 37.6 million, and Abu Dhabi surged 25.3 per cent to 28.7 million travellers.