UzeyirMikayil · CC BY 4.0 · edited
Kuwait’s civil aviation authority said on October 2 that transit operations at Kuwait International Airport remain suspended until further notice, Arab Times reported. The authority also said it took administrative action against Jazeera Airways for opening transit flights without approval.
Travelers who planned to connect through Kuwait City should not rely on any airline announcement that says otherwise. Only the authority can lift the suspension, and for wider Gulf flight planning, see our guide to the EASA Gulf airspace bulletin extended to November 16.
- Status: transit operations at Kuwait International Airport suspended until further notice, per the authority on October 2.
- Who said it: authority spokesman Abdullah Al-Rajhi, quoted by the Kuwait News Agency.
- Airline action: administrative measures against Jazeera Airways after it announced resumption without approval.
- Earlier denial: a September 23 statement rejected reports of transit flights starting October 1.
- How a change will be announced: through the authority’s approved channels only.
Kuwait Rejects the Resumption Reports
Gulf News quoted the authority as saying the suspension has stayed in force since attacks began in the region. The stated reason is to keep security and safety standards high for passengers, aircraft and airports.
Al-Rajhi said the authority had not coordinated with Jazeera Airways or any other carrier on restarting transit services. Any decision to lift the suspension will be announced officially, he added.
The wording matters for planning. The authority framed the suspension as a security measure tied to regional conditions, not as a schedule problem that an airline can solve by adding flights, and it described Jazeera’s announcement as a violation of its rules rather than a commercial change.
Jazeera Airways Faces Administrative Measures
According to the authority, Jazeera opened transit flights and announced their resumption without prior approval. The measures taken against the airline follow the regulations that govern transit operations, the spokesman said.
The sources reviewed do not describe the measures or say whether ordinary Jazeera flights from Kuwait are affected. If you hold a Jazeera ticket, such as the Kuwait to Prague winter flights, check the booking with the airline.
The October 1 Rumor Came First
On September 23 the same authority denied reports that transit flights would begin on October 1. Times Kuwait reported that no airline operating at the airport had been told of any such decision.
The spokesman urged airlines to verify rules with the authority before publishing service announcements. He warned that inaccurate announcements could confuse passengers and the public.
What the Authority Has Not Said
The statements give no restart date, no list of routes and no description of the measures against Jazeera. They also do not say how many passengers are affected, so the practical impact depends on how each airline built its Kuwait connections.
Between the September 23 denial and the October 2 statement, the message did not change: the suspension stands, and carriers must wait for approval. That consistency is the most reliable signal travelers have right now.
What Connecting Passengers Should Check
The authority uses the term transit flights, and its statements do not list affected routes or airlines. In practical terms, travelers building itineraries that change planes in Kuwait should treat that connection as unavailable until the authority says otherwise.
That is our reading of the statements, not an official instruction. The simplest test is whether the airline will sell and confirm the connecting leg in writing.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Have a ticket that changes planes in Kuwait | Ask the airline to confirm in writing that the connection is operating, or request rerouting. |
| See an airline promoting transit service via Kuwait | Treat it with caution, because the authority said on October 2 that no resumption was approved. |
| Fly Jazeera Airways to or from Kuwait | Check your booking status with the airline, since the sources do not describe the measures taken against it. |
| Are booking a new trip through the region | Choose itineraries that do not rely on a Kuwait connection until an official lifting notice appears. |
The authority’s next announcement is the gate. The suspension ends only when the authority publishes a decision through its approved channels, so airline marketing alone does not count.
The day before departure is the check. Ask your airline whether any Kuwait connection on your ticket is confirmed, and keep the reply.
A schedule change notice is the trigger. If the airline reroutes or cancels a leg, use the rebooking or refund options it offers for that change.
Are transit flights operating at Kuwait International Airport?
No, the authority said on October 2 that transit operations remain suspended until further notice.
Why did Kuwait act against Jazeera Airways?
The authority says Jazeera opened transit flights and announced their resumption without prior approval.
Will the suspension end soon?
No date has been given, and the authority says any lifting will be announced through its approved channels.
Are regular Jazeera flights from Kuwait cancelled?
The sources reviewed do not say so, so confirm your own flight with the airline.
