92,000 expats departed in last 3 months – Waiting for official instruction for arrivals

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KUWAIT CITY, Jun 21: Director of Operations Department at the General Administration of Civil Aviation at Kuwait International Airport, Mansour Al Hashimi, revealed that about 92,000 expats including residence violators had left Kuwait in past 3 months (April, May and June) through Kuwait International Airport by 600 flights.

The DGCA received requests from several countries and embassies that wish to operate flights to evacuate their nationals to their countries, and as soon the request were received, approval was granted within 24 hours to operate the flight for airlines whether domestic or international. The variations in number of flights per day was according to the reservation done by outgoing passengers.

Since the beginning of the crisis the airport has not been completely closed but commercial traffic was suspended only. Commercial cargo flights carrying food supplies and medical supplies continue. Besides evacuation trips for citizens from abroad and currently working on departing flights for expats of the country confirms that Kuwait International Airport has not closed its doors during corona crisis which continue to operate 24 hours a day.

Incoming of expats
Regarding incoming air traffic at Kuwait International Airport and commercial operation for departure or arrival, Al-Hashemi said, “We are waiting for the zero hour to start operating flights, according to the schedule and plans that have been put in place by the Supreme Committee, which includes several government agencies, but so far we are waiting for official instructions by the cabinet and health authorities. No date has been set yet for the operation of the airport but we have 3 stages that have been defined according to the committee formed by the cabinet we are awaiting for approval for work according to a timetable.”

Expats who have valid residency and are stranded outside Kuwait, until now no instructions have been issued to allow the expatriate to return currently only Kuwait nationals and their first-degree relatives and domestic workers, provided that the sponsor is accompanying by them are allowed to enter.

Citizens are allowed to travel as per the instructions prohibiting the travel of Kuwaitis in exceptional cases and conditions determined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Interior. All those who wish to travel at the present time are only students and patients, some special cases that need to get approval from the concerned authorities. Whoever travels has to sign a pledge during departure that he will be sole responsible for his undertaking. 

Al-Hashemi concluded saying the duty free shops at the airport continue to operate as before on the terms of the Cabinet, whether banks, restaurants, banking and cafe adhering to the terms and decisions of the Ministry of Health providing services to passengers.

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