Kuwait Airways will operate around 728 weekly flights during June, including departures and arrivals, across 58 destinations worldwide, following approvals from the relevant authorities for several routes, Acting Chief Executive Officer Abdulwahab Al-Shatti said. 

Speaking to KUNA on Sunday, Al-Shatti said the national carrier currently operates about 420 weekly flights to 45 destinations globally.

Al-Shatti also outlined that approximately 500,000 tickets have been canceled since February 28, with about 55 percent of their value already refunded, while work is ongoing to complete refunds for the remaining 45 percent. He said delays in processing refunds were caused by airport closure disruptions, a surge in refund requests, reduced staffing levels in government agencies, and ongoing verification of bank data in coordination with financial institutions.

He noted that the expanded June network includes destinations such as Malaga, Alexandria, Salalah, Sarajevo, Nice, Vienna, Antalya, Bodrum, Trabzon, Mykonos, Zurich, Moscow, London, Manchester, Amsterdam, Madrid, Barcelona, Istanbul, Geneva, Milan, Rome, Paris, Frankfurt and Munich, among others across Europe. He added that the network also covers destinations in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, including Delhi, Kathmandu, Bangkok, Manila, Guangzhou, Beirut, Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh, Amman, Manama, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah, Medina, Lahore, Islamabad, Dhaka, Mumbai and Colombo, in addition to Casablanca and several Indian cities.

Following the reopening of airspace and adjustments to flight schedules, refund requests increased significantly, he added, noting that the company continues to accelerate procedures in coordination with relevant authorities. Al-Shatti stressed that Kuwait Airways remains committed to improving services, expediting refunds, and increasing flight frequencies to popular destinations while maintaining competitive fares despite operational and economic challenges.

He said passengers were offered flexible options, allowing ticket validity for up to two years with the ability to change destinations or rebook without additional fees or fare differences. On operating costs, Al-Shatti said global jet fuel prices have risen by more than 120 percent, alongside higher insurance premiums, significantly impacting ticket pricing structures. He added that such external factors, including fuel supply, insurance rates, and geopolitical developments, are expected to persist for some time, though any stabilization would help ease cost pressures.

He noted that some fare increases are linked to Special Prorate Agreements (SPAs) between airlines, which determine revenue-sharing mechanisms for multi-carrier journeys. Al-Shatti also said longer flight durations resulting from restricted air routes have increased fuel consumption and operational costs, even on short-haul regional routes. He explained that aircraft rerouting due to airspace restrictions has added to operational complexity, though the airline continues efforts to manage pricing and maintain affordability.

He said customer service channels, particularly hotline 171, experienced a significant surge in calls during the crisis period, more than quadrupling normal levels, prompting the company to increase staffing to handle inquiries and refund requests. Al-Shatti added that the closure of Kuwaiti airspace on February 28 presented major operational challenges, leaving aircraft and passengers stranded abroad, while transit passengers inside Kuwait were also affected. He said the airline activated its emergency response plan, arranging alternative travel routes, including operations via Dammam Airport in coordination with relevant authorities in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

During the crisis, approximately 2,180 Kuwaiti citizens were repatriated on 15 flights between March 2 and 13 via Dammam, with special coordination points established in Europe and East Asia. He added that the airline ensured the return of citizens without additional ticketing or change fees, prioritizing medical cases, students, and other urgent categories. Al-Shatti also said Kuwait Airways transported more than 2.4 million kilograms of essential supplies, including food and medicine, and operated special flights to deliver critical medical shipments, including cancer medications and radioactive materials from France.

In coordination with the Ministry of Interior, the airline also operated flights to repatriate more than 5,000 violators to their countries of origin during the closure period. He said the airline maintained close coordination with the PUB

Authority of Civil Aviation and other relevant bodies through daily meetings to manage operations and ensure passenger safety. Al-Shatti expressed appreciation to all supporting entities, including Public Authority of Civil Aviation and Saudi counterparts, for facilitating operations through Dammam Airport during the crisis. He also thanked Tamdeen Company for providing Al-Khairan Mall as a passenger assembly point for transport to Dammam Airport, noting that all efforts contributed to overcoming operational challenges during the disruption period. 

Source: KUNA