Kuwait Aviation Additional Information
Main Airport Contacts
Directorate General of Civil Aviation
• Management and operation of Kuwait International Airport and supervision of all services
and facilities extended to air transport traffic in the airport.
• Supervision of construction and maintenance of associated facilities serving international
civil aviation movement.
• Organization of all air traffic within the Kuwaiti airspace.
• Providing necessary services for international air navigation such as telecommunications and
meteorology.
• Oversight of civil aviation safety matters including registration, certification, operation and
maintenance of civil aircrafts.
• Supervision of all air transport affairs including the conclusion of international conventions
and agreements in the civil aviation field.
• Organization of air transport market in the State of Kuwait.
• Supervision of all governmental authorities and private bodies functioning at Kuwait
International Airport.
Due to the continuous developmental changes in the aviation world, the Directorate General of Civil
Aviation does not rest on its previous achievements continuing to score higher levels of success
through its present and future projects.
Ground Handling Companies
Kuwait Airways Company (KAC)
On the wave of the oil boom of the 1940s, a national carrier was born in 1954. Initially, Kuwait Airways
Company served a limited network of Abadan, Beirut, Damascus and Jerusalem but a year later the
fledgling carrier was facing economic hardship, and the government of Kuwait took a 50% interest in
the airline, subsequently doubling the company's capital. Having entered the rough and tumble world
of aviation, the government finally took out 100% share in Kuwait Airways.
Kuwait Airways entered the jet age in 1962 by leasing a Comet 4-C, the world's first jet-engined
airliner. In the 1960s, the national carrier rapidly expanded its route map, and scheduled services to
London begun three times a week. To keep pace with fast-moving aviation needs, three Boeing 707s
were delivered in 1968. Ten years later, Kuwait Airways had an all -Boeing 707 fleet of eight aircraft.
In 1978, Kuwait Airways entered the wide-body age by taking delivery of its first two B747-200s,
adding a third the following year. This expansion permitted Kuwait Airways to extend its network to
New York to the west and Manila to the east. Modernization of the fleet continued, and four B727200s were delivered in 1980-1981. Two years later eight Airbus A310s and A300-600s were
delivered, and in 1986 three Boeing 767-200ER aircraft joined the wide-body fleet. Following the
destruction of its premises and 15 of its aircraft during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the airline was
relaunched. Kuwait Airways fleet now comprises three A320-200s, three A310-300s, five A300605Rs, four A340-300s and two Boeing B777s, bringing the fleet to 17 aircraft, equipped with the
latest entertainment systems. Kuwait Airways aims to re-establish its network to reach more than 46
countries around the globe with a firm commitment to providing the finest service and comfort to
passengers while continuing to rank safety as one of highest priorities.
National Aviation Services (NAS)
NAS is a private airline ground handling company headquartered in Kuwait, also managing air cargo
services, providing ramp services, passenger services, engineering, travel solutions, meet and assist,
lounge management, a training center and aviation security.
Performance Data
Performance
Year(s) and figures
Total Aircraft Movements
Jan-Feb 2012: 30,024
Freight (in metric tonnes)
2007: 176,203
2008: 180,090
2009: 197,213
2010: 208,295
2011: 195,066
Total Passengers
Jan-Feb 2012: 1,433,479
2007: 6,910,309
2008: 7,226,345
2009: 8,125,747
2010: 8,332,857
2011: 8,466,737
Current monthly use by Humanitarian flights (UNHAS)
N/A
Cargo Capacity Data
Cargo Capacity
Year(s) and figures
Total Aircraft Movements
Commercial Aircraft
Jan-Feb 2012: 12,099
2007: 56,987
2008: 61,512
2009: 78,597
2010: 79,350
2011: 71,519
Non-Commercial Aircraft
Jan-Feb 2012: 1,855
2007: 26,574
2008: 26,408
2009: 19,963
2010: 14,927
Cargo Capacity
Year(s) and figures
2011: 13,598
Total capacity of the airport (mt)
200 000 tons per annum
Current activity of the airport (mt)
200 000 tons per annum
Current monthly use by Humanitarian flights (UNHAS)
N/A
Information Sources
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait_International_Airport
- http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?id=KU24997&sch=OKBK
- https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ku.html
List of passenger airlines operating in and out of Kuwait
Source: http://www.dgca.gov.kw/AxCMSwebLive/EnAirlinesCompanies.cms
Code
Airline Name
ABY / G9
AIR ARABIA
AFG / FG
ARIANA AFGHAN AIRLINES
AFR / AF
AIR FRANCE
ALK / UL
SRILANKAN AIRLINES
AXB / IX
AIR INDIA EXPRESS
BAB
BAHRAIN AIR
BAW / BA
BRITISH AIRWAYS
BBC / BG
BIMAN BANGLADESH AIRLINE
CLX / CV
CARGOLUX AIRLINES
DHX / ES
DHL AVIATION SERVICES
DLH / LH
LUFTHANSA
ETD / EY
ETIHAD AIRWAYS
ETH / ET
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES
FCX / FC
FALCON EXPRESS
FDB
FLYDUBAI
GFA / GF
GULF AIR
IAC / IC
AIR INDIA NACIL-I
IRA / IR
IRAN AIR
IRC / EP
IRAN ASEMAN AIRLINES
IRM
MAHAN AIR
IYE / IY
YEMENIA-YEMEN AIRWAYS
JAI / 9W
JET AIRWAYS
JZR / J9
JAZEERA AIRWAYS
KAC / KU
KUWAIT AIRWAYS
KLM / KL
KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES
KNE
NAS AIR
LMU
ALMASRIA UNIVERSAL AIRLINES
MEA / ME
MIDDLE EAST AIRLINES
MHK
ALNASER AIRLINES
MLR
MIHIN LANKA
MSR / MS
EGYPTAIR
OMA / WY
OMAN AIR
PIA / PK
PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES
QTR / QR
QATAR AIRWAYS
RBG
AIR ARABIA EGYPT
RJA / RJ
ROYAL JORDANIAN
SAI / NL
SHAHEEN AIR INTERNATIONAL
SFW
SAFI AIR
SIA
SINGAPORE AIRLINES
SVA / SV
SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES
SYR / RB
SYRIAN ARAB AIRLINES
TAR / TU
TUNISAIR
THY / TK
TURKISH AIRLINES
UAE / EK
EMIRATES
UAL / UA
UNITED AIRLINES
VOS
ROVOS AIR
WAN
WATANIYA AIRWAYS