Published on : 06 Oct 2026
Kuwait International Airport transit operations remain suspended until further notice as of October 6, 2026. Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has confirmed that restrictions introduced when Iranian drone and missile attacks began in February 2026 have never been lifted for transit passengers — and has taken formal administrative and legal action against Jazeera Airways after the carrier unilaterally announced a transit restart from October 1 without obtaining prior approval from the authority. The airport has been one of the most heavily targeted aviation facilities in the ongoing 2026 Iran conflict, with drone strikes destroying the primary surveillance radar system in March. No timetable has been given for restoring transit operations. If you are booked on any connecting itinerary through Kuwait City International Airport — this is everything you need to know right now.
Kuwait International Airport has been at the centre of the 2026 regional conflict since February 28, 2026, when all flights to and from the airport were suspended following the closure of Kuwaiti airspace amid the 2026 Iran war.
Since 28 February 2026, all flights to and from Kuwait International Airport were suspended following the closure of Kuwaiti airspace due to the 2026 Iran war. Local carriers like Jazeera Airways diverted operations to Qaisumah International Airport in Saudi Arabia, located approximately 2.5 hours from Kuwait by road.
On the night of March 14, the DGCA reported that several drones successfully struck the airport’s primary surveillance radar system. Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways have reported combined losses exceeding $450 million.
The airport reopened for select destinations including Guangzhou, Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh and more with Kuwait and Jazeera Airways starting from April 26. However, transit operations — connecting passengers using Kuwait as a stopover between two other countries — remained suspended under a separate, ongoing DGCA instruction.
The critical distinction that every connecting passenger must understand: resumption of point-to-point flights into and out of Kuwait is NOT the same as resumption of transit. An airline can fly Kuwait City–Dubai without transit rights. A passenger connecting Dubai–Kuwait City–London is a transit passenger and remains subject to the suspension.
On September 23, 2026, Aviation Week reported that Jazeera Airways was to reinstate transfer and transit services through the company’s dedicated Terminal 5 at Kuwait International Airport from October 1.
That announcement was made without DGCA approval.
Kuwait’s General Authority of Civil Aviation denied reports that transit operations at Kuwait International Airport had resumed, stressing that the suspension remains in effect until further notice. Authority spokesman Abdullah Al-Rajhi said that the authority had not coordinated with Jazeera Airways or any other airline on resuming transit operations. He said administrative measures were taken against Jazeera Airways after it opened transit flights and announced their resumption without obtaining prior approval from the authority.
Al-Rajhi said the decisions and instructions suspending transit operations have remained in force since the attacks began in the region. He stressed that the measures were introduced to maintain the highest standards of security and safety for passengers, aircraft and airports amid current regional developments and security conditions.
Jazeera Airways offered affected passengers a complimentary date change or a full refund.
Any airline that uses Kuwait International Airport as a transit hub for connecting passengers is directly affected by this suspension. The key carriers and routes:
| Airline | Kuwait Operations | Transit Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Jazeera Airways | Hub carrier — Terminal 5 | ❌ Transit suspended — DGCA action taken |
| Kuwait Airways | National carrier — Terminal 4 | ❌ Transit suspended |
| Emirates | Dubai–Kuwait City service | ⚠️ Check connecting itineraries |
| Etihad Airways | Abu Dhabi–Kuwait City service | ⚠️ Cascading delays reported |
| flydubai | Dubai–Kuwait City service | ⚠️ Selective route cancellations |
| Air Arabia | Sharjah–Kuwait City service | ⚠️ Monitor — Gulf-wide disruption |
| British Airways | No direct Kuwait service | ℹ️ Connecting via GCC hubs may be affected |
| Qatar Airways | Doha–Kuwait City service | ℹ️ Check connection rights |
Etihad, Emirates, Air Arabia and flydubai cancel Kuwait flights as Gulf tensions disrupt UAE operations.
The critical question for every connecting passenger: Does your itinerary show Kuwait City (KWI) as an intermediate stop? If yes — you are a transit passenger and your connection is not authorised under current DGCA instructions, regardless of what your airline’s booking system shows.
Understanding why transit remains suspended requires understanding what has happened to Kuwait International Airport since February 2026.
Kuwait International Airport has been one of the most targeted air facilities in the Gulf conflict. Kuwait airport has been one of the most targeted air facility by Iranian attacks in the Gulf area.
The March 14 drone strike that destroyed the primary surveillance radar system is the critical operational fact. A commercial airport cannot safely manage simultaneous arrivals and departures from multiple directions without functioning radar. The airport’s reopening for select point-to-point flights in April was possible because those individual movements could be managed with partial systems and military radar support. Transit operations — which require managing connecting passengers, their bags, and their onward connections simultaneously — place significantly higher demands on airport operational capacity.
The continued suspension is part of precautionary measures aimed at maintaining the highest standards of safety and security for passengers, aircraft and airport operations amid the ongoing security situation and developments in the region. The authority said it would announce any changes to the current arrangements through official channels.
There is no indication that the radar system has been fully restored. There is no indication that the regional security situation has sufficiently stabilised. And there is now a confirmed enforcement action against Jazeera Airways for attempting to restart transit services before the DGCA gave approval — which reinforces that the authority is actively enforcing the suspension, not simply allowing it to lapse.
Here is the sequence of events that has left some passengers in limbo:
September 23: Aviation Week reports Jazeera Airways will reinstate transit services from October 1 through Terminal 5.
Late September: Jazeera Airways opens transit bookings. Some passengers book connections through Kuwait City.
October 1: Jazeera Airways begins selling and confirming transit itineraries.
October 2–3: DGCA issues formal denial. Administrative measures were taken against Jazeera Airways after it opened transit flights and announced their resumption without obtaining prior approval from the authority.
October 3–5: Multiple official sources confirm suspension remains in place. DGCA states it has taken administrative and legal action.
Jazeera Airways postponed its transfer and transit operations and offered affected passengers a complimentary date change or a full refund.
If you booked a Jazeera Airways transit connection through Kuwait City between September 23 and October 5: Contact Jazeera Airways immediately. You are entitled to either a full refund or a complimentary date change. Do not wait for Jazeera to contact you — the airline’s offer of refund or rebook is available now. Go to jazeeraairways.com or call their customer service line.
If you booked any other airline’s connecting itinerary through Kuwait City: Contact your airline immediately. The suspension applies to all carriers, not just Jazeera.
British Airways does not operate direct Kuwait City services, but UK passengers who booked connecting itineraries through Kuwait on Jazeera Airways, Kuwait Airways, or as part of Gulf carrier connections may be affected. The most common UK–Kuwait connections involve:
If your booking confirmation shows KWI/Kuwait City as an intermediate stop, contact your airline today. Under UK261, if your airline cancels or substantially changes your flight, you are entitled to a full cash refund or rebooking.
Australian and NZ passengers are most commonly affected if they booked:
Etihad Airways experiencing major cascading disruptions on London Heathrow, Manchester, Barcelona, Bangkok, Phuket, Delhi, Islamabad, Karachi routes. Australian passengers on Etihad Abu Dhabi connections to South Asian destinations are most at risk.
Canadian passengers connecting through Gulf hubs to South Asia, the Middle East or East Africa may have connecting itineraries affected by Kuwait’s transit suspension. Air Canada and WestJet codeshare arrangements with Gulf carriers can route passengers through Kuwait. Check your full itinerary for any KWI intermediate stop.
US carriers do not operate directly to Kuwait, but American, United and Delta passengers connecting via Etihad, Emirates or Kuwait Airways on single tickets may have connecting exposure. Under US DOT rules, if a carrier cancels your flight or substantially changes your itinerary, you are entitled to a full cash refund.
| Situation | Your Rights |
|---|---|
| Jazeera Airways booked transit — now cancelled | Full refund OR complimentary date change — Jazeera has confirmed both available |
| Any airline cancels Kuwait transit booking | Full refund to original payment OR rebooking on next available alternative route |
| UK261 applies (UK-departing flights) | Full refund or rerouting; compensation if cancellation <14 days notice and not extraordinary circumstances |
| EU261 applies (EU-departing flights) | Same — full refund or rerouting; compensation assessment |
| US DOT applies (US-departing flights) | Full cash refund if flight cancelled for any reason |
| Australian Consumer Law | Rebooking at no extra cost; refund if rerouting not acceptable |
| Extraordinary circumstances defence | Security-related suspension likely classified as extraordinary — reduces cash compensation liability but never removes refund right |
Key principle: The DGCA suspension is a security measure outside any airline’s control. That means airlines will argue “extraordinary circumstances” to avoid paying fixed cash compensation. That argument is likely to succeed. However, your right to a full cash refund if your flight is cancelled is unconditional — extraordinary circumstances never removes it. Always request a cash refund in writing if your connecting itinerary is cancelled.
No timeline has been given for lifting restrictions.
The authority said it would announce any changes to the current arrangements through official channels.
The DGCA has given no indication of when transit will resume. The suspension has been in place since the airport came under attack in February 2026 — more than seven months. The formal action against Jazeera Airways for attempting an unauthorised restart signals that the DGCA is actively enforcing the suspension rather than allowing it to wind down informally.
The key conditions that would need to be met before transit can realistically resume:
Until all three are confirmed, do not book connecting itineraries through Kuwait City.
Posted By : Vinay
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and is based on information available at the time of publication. Travel advisories, airline schedules, airport operations, visa requirements, government regulations, and other travel-related information are subject to change without prior notice. While Travel Tourister makes reasonable efforts to verify information using official announcements, government publications, airline and airport communications, and other reliable sources, we cannot guarantee that all information remains complete, accurate, or up to date at all times. Readers should independently verify any information that may affect their travel plans with the relevant airline, airport authority, government agency, embassy, or other official source before making travel, financial, or other decisions. Travel Tourister shall not be liable for any direct or indirect loss, inconvenience, or damages arising from the use of or reliance on the information contained in this article. Nothing in this publication constitutes legal, immigration, financial, or professional travel advice. If you believe any information in this article is inaccurate or outdated, please contact our editorial team. We review all credible correction requests promptly and update our content whenever appropriate.
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