KUWAIT CITY, Sept 13: Kuwait Airways has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Five-Star Airline Rating by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX), recognizing its outstanding onboard passenger services. The accolade is based on objective reviews from travelers around the globe.

In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Chairman of the Board Abdulmohsen Al-Fegaan attributed the achievement to the tireless efforts and dedication of the airline’s staff, as well as the high-quality services and comfort consistently provided to passengers.

"The rating is the fruit of efforts and staff dedication, excellent services and comfort provided to passengers," Al-Fegaan said, emphasizing that the recognition reflects the airline’s commitment to enhancing passenger experience.

The Five-Star Airline Rating is determined through impartial feedback from travelers on more than one million flights operated by 600 airlines worldwide. The evaluation criteria include in-flight entertainment, food quality, and various other onboard services.

Al-Fegaan also noted that earlier this year, Kuwait Airways ranked 20th among 109 global airlines and fifth in the Middle East, according to the 2024 annual report by travel data platform AirHelp. The carrier further earned the top global ranking for onboard meal quality from MoneySuperMarket last year and was placed second in the Middle East for punctuality by aviation analytics firm Cirium in April 2024.

“This proves that the Blue Bird is on the path of excellence and remarkable development to achieve the best achievements and positive results,” Al-Fegaan stated.

He affirmed the airline’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its services and upgrading operational systems to ensure maximum customer satisfaction.

Al-Fegaan added that Kuwait Airways received an official invitation from APEX to attend the award ceremony held in California, USA. The award was accepted on behalf of the company by Acting CEO Abdulwahab Al-Shatti.

The APEX Five-Star and Four-Star awards are the only global aviation honors based solely on unbiased passenger evaluations, gathered through APEX’s partnership with Concur’s TripIt app—the world’s most widely used travel planning platform. These awards are also independently certified by a professional external auditing firm.

Kuwait Airways, founded in 1953 as Kuwait National Airways Limited, operated its first flight on March 16, 1954. The Kuwaiti government acquired full ownership of the airline in 1962.