Kuwait to suspend KIA's commercial flights: Update

The Kuwaiti government is suspending all commercial flights in and out of Kuwait International Airport (KIA) as of midnight tomorrow until further notice in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

But exemptions will be made for Kuwaiti citizens being evacuated from overseas. Air freight will operate normally, said government spokesmen Tareq Al-Mezrem.

Kuwait's health ministry reported three new cases of coronavirus in the country yesterday, taking the total number to 72.

The severing of diplomatic ties between some Gulf Co-operation Council members and Qatar in June 2017 benefited Kuwait's aviation sector, which experienced double-digit growth, absorbing intra-Gulf traffic. Kuwait's average domestic jet fuel consumption rose last year to 16,600 b/d from 15,200 b/d in 2018, according to the latest available data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative.

Jet fuel demand usually rise during the peak summer travel and religious holiday season in the Mideast Gulf, but the coronavirus will affect air travel demand during this period this year.

Other Middle East countries have imposed further flight restrictions, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Jordan, Oman and Iraq.

Saudi Arabia has expanded its travel ban to 30 more countries, taking the total ban to 39 countries. These include all member countries of the EU, as well as Switzerland, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti and Somalia.

Saudi Arabia has also suspended travel by citizens and residents until further notice and traffic movement through all land ports with Jordan. Commercial and freight traffic will still be allowed, as well as the movement of exceptional humanitarian cases. Saudi citizens and residents have a 72-hour period to return to the kingdom for these exceptions before the travel suspensions becomes effective.

By Sarah Raffoul

source: Argus Media