Key Takeaways
• Fourteen foreign airlines, including British Airways, will exit Kuwait International Airport by 2025 after rising costs and competitiveness issues.
• Passenger traffic at Kuwait International Airport dropped 1% in 2024, contrasting with double-digit growth at Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi airports.
• Ahmad Al-Kreebani was replaced by Abdulwahab Al-Shatti as Kuwait Airways CEO in May 2025 due to repeated safety compliance failures.
Kuwait International Airport Faces Major Setbacks as Foreign Airlines Exit
Kuwait International Airport is experiencing one of its toughest periods in decades. In 2025, a total of 14 foreign airlines will stop flying to and from this important gateway for Kuwait 🇰🇼. This trend signals a period of great concern for the country’s travelers, its business community, and workers in the aviation sector.
British Airways, which had a strong history in the region, led the departure in March 2025 after 60 years of service. Soon after, several other major international airlines such as Lufthansa, KLM, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Delta, United Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific Air, Philippine Airlines, Air France, Swiss Air, and Royal Brunei Airlines announced they too would leave the airport behind. These moves have brought to the surface many underlying issues, from rising running costs to an urgent need for modernization.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the decisions by these airlines are not isolated. They follow a clear pattern rooted in ongoing problems facing Kuwait International Airport.
Leadership Changes and Safety Concerns
At the same time that airlines are leaving, Kuwait Airways has faced its own turbulence. The company replaced its top leader, Ahmad Al-Kreebani, on May 5, 2025. This change came after repeated safety compliance problems — meaning the airline was not meeting required safety standards. Regulators viewed these failures as too serious to overlook.
Ahmad Al-Kreebani’s removal has been a major event. Many in the industry believe strong leadership is needed to guide Kuwait Airways and help steady the airport’s future. Abdulwahab Al-Shatti has replaced Ahmad Al-Kreebani, and many now look to him to provide better direction and keep safety at the forefront.
Mounting Cost Pressures Make Business Hard
One of the loudest warnings from international airlines is that it has become too expensive to operate out of Kuwait International Airport. Jet fuel prices have risen, which means it costs more to fly every plane that arrives or leaves. Other operational prices have increased too, making it difficult for airlines to run flights and still make a profit. Airlines have compared their experience at Kuwait International Airport with that at nearby airports in other Gulf countries. The fact is clear — their competitors have a cost advantage.
Due to these higher prices, airlines began to see that their Kuwait 🇰🇼 routes were not making money. Some airlines tried to adjust by reducing flights or offering fewer seats, but in the end, several decided it was no longer workable.
“Economic unviability” is the term airline leaders use to describe this. Put simply, it means the costs of running flights in and out of Kuwait International Airport outweigh the benefits. For many of these airlines, this was the main reason to suspend their services.
Let’s break down what this means for passengers:
– Fewer choices for international destinations
– Higher prices for flights due to less competition
– More layovers or longer journeys to reach major cities
– Greater uncertainty for future travel planning
These effects are felt not just by travelers, but also by businesses that depend on quick, direct global connections.
Outdated Infrastructure—Why Modernization Is Needed
Another important issue airlines and passengers point to is that Kuwait International Airport is not keeping up with the times. While other airports in the Gulf region — notably in Dubai 🇦🇪 and Doha 🇶🇦 — have invested in building new terminals, updating technology, and improving passenger services, Kuwait 🇰🇼 has lagged behind.
Airline representatives report that the airport’s main terminal feels out of date. There are complaints about slow baggage handling, crowded waiting areas, and limited services for international travelers. When compared to the speed, comfort, and modern look of other nearby airports, Kuwait International Airport is seen as falling short.
Business travelers in particular value quick check-in, fast security checks, and modern lounges. When these are missing, airlines can lose high-paying customers to rival airports. Airlines point out that today’s passengers expect a world-class experience, making it hard to fill planes if the airport experience does not measure up.
When airlines see other airports investing in:
– Faster internet and better communication tools
– Streamlined customs and immigration processes
– More dining and shopping choices for travelers
– More space and quieter seating areas
they realize their own passengers may prefer to connect via these competitors instead.
Growth and Competition in the Gulf Aviation Market
Kuwait International Airport’s current troubles are even more striking when set against the positive trends seen in the wider region. According to the latest figures, passenger traffic at Kuwait International Airport actually dropped by 1% in 2024, totaling 15.4 million travelers. By contrast, airports in Dubai 🇦🇪, Doha 🇶🇦, and Abu Dhabi 🇦🇪 all saw impressive increases.
Here are the latest numbers to show the difference:
– Dubai: 92.3 million passengers in 2024, up 5.7% from the year before
– Doha: 52.7 million passengers, up 14.8%
– Abu Dhabi: 28.7 million passengers, up 25.3%
Kuwait International Airport’s 1% drop signals stagnation — meaning there is no real growth, while other airports are seeing sharp rises.
This growth in Dubai 🇦🇪, Doha 🇶🇦, and Riyadh 🇸🇦 (which reported a 17.8% increase) is not happening by accident. Airports there have put effort and money into making themselves more appealing to both airlines and passengers. They have:
– Built bigger, more modern terminals
– Invested in better technology and smoother processes
– Offered incentives or lower costs to foreign airlines
As a result, travelers now often choose to fly through Dubai 🇦🇪 or Doha 🇶🇦 even if it means a longer journey for their main trip, just to enjoy a better airport experience.
Why Are Airlines Leaving? Summary of Main Reasons
To sum up, the reasons why British Airways and other international airlines are exiting Kuwait International Airport fall into three main categories:
1. Higher running costs: As prices go up, airlines make less money on these routes and often lose money.
2. Out-of-date airport facilities: Travelers want a modern, comfortable experience, and many don’t feel Kuwait International Airport offers this.
3. Tough competition: Neighboring airports provide more modern services for lower costs, so airlines move their flights there to attract more customers.
For airlines, making money is essential, and they choose routes that allow them to do that. If they face too many challenges at one airport, especially if their rivals are seeing much better results elsewhere, their decision to leave is not a surprise.
What Does This Mean for Kuwait’s Economy and Immigration?
The ripple effects of this airline exit reach far beyond the airport. When it becomes harder or more expensive to fly in and out of Kuwait International Airport, it impacts the country’s broader links to the region and the world.
For one, global businesses may hesitate to invest or send employees to Kuwait 🇰🇼 if they find it hard to reach key markets or need to plan complicated travel schedules. This could slow economic growth and limit job options for local workers. In addition, the decline in airline choice could affect international students, medical travelers, and those visiting family abroad.
Labor migration — the movement of workers between countries — may also see changes. The Gulf is a major destination for workers from Asia and beyond. Less convenient flights and limited airline options may make it less appealing for skilled workers to move to Kuwait 🇰🇼.
Tourism is another concern. If fewer international airlines offer direct flights, Kuwait 🇰🇼 may not attract as many leisure or business travelers, risking a drop in tourism income.
How Has Leadership Addressed the Crisis?
The firing of Ahmad Al-Kreebani, CEO of Kuwait Airways, was a rare move that shows government agencies and airline boards are taking these failures seriously. Safety compliance is not just a regulatory requirement—it is a matter of trust. When an airline repeatedly falls short of important safety standards, it risked not only its own reputation but the standing of Kuwait International Airport as a whole.
By putting Abdulwahab Al-Shatti in charge, leaders hope to show they are willing to act and push for needed changes. The challenge for the new CEO is to restore confidence among travelers and industry partners. That means working to meet, and even exceed, international safety rules and standards.
What Can Be Done?
Industry experts point out that Kuwait 🇰🇼 must take bold steps to remain competitive. Investors and business groups call for:
– Investments in building or updating airport terminals
– Upgrades to technology, systems, and passenger services
– Regulatory reforms to make it easier for airlines to operate profitably
– Periodic reviews of fees and taxes on airline operations
For examples of how other countries handle aviation growth and modernization, readers can refer to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s member state links which provide official guidelines and updates relevant to airport development, safety, and standards.
Looking to the Future: Opportunity Amidst Challenge
While the present climate is difficult, some say this could be a turning point. If Kuwait 🇰🇼 can respond quickly and invest in meaningful change, there is a chance to reverse the trend. Improving infrastructure, keeping safety as a top priority, and creating an airport experience on par with its neighbors may help Kuwait International Airport attract foreign airlines again in the years ahead.
Such a shift would benefit everyone—from local travelers and visiting professionals to migrant workers seeking safe and direct connections to their home countries.
Conclusion
Kuwait International Airport’s struggles in 2025 are a wake-up call. The loss of British Airways and 13 other foreign airlines sends a strong message about the need for real change. Economic pressures, outdated facilities, and tough regional competition have all played a role.
The leadership change at Kuwait Airways—especially the firing of Ahmad Al-Kreebani—shows that officials are willing to make tough choices for the sake of safety and improvement. Now, the next steps will be critical. Meaningful investment, policy updates, and a focus on customer experience may help Kuwait 🇰🇼 climb back onto the map as a hub for international travel and immigration.
For those closely following immigration patterns, the events at Kuwait International Airport are a reminder that airport quality, choice of airlines, and regulatory practices matter—not just for travelers, but for the country’s overall future. For more detailed updates and analysis on how these developments impact global mobility and migration, VisaVerge.com remains a trusted source.
As new policies and investments are considered, all eyes will be on Kuwait 🇰🇼 to see how its leaders, airlines, and airport managers work to restore confidence and relevance in a changing world.
Learn Today
Economic unviability → When operating costs exceed revenues, making a business route or service no longer financially sustainable to maintain.
Safety compliance → Meeting the required international safety standards and regulations for airline operations and passenger protection at all times.
Open skies policy → A regulatory approach allowing foreign airlines to operate freely, increasing competition and connectivity in international aviation.
Passenger traffic → The number of travelers passing through an airport during a specific period, used to measure airport activity and success.
Modernization → Upgrading or improving airport facilities, technology, and services to meet current international standards and traveler expectations.
This Article in a Nutshell
Kuwait International Airport faces unprecedented challenges as fourteen major foreign airlines, led by British Airways, depart by 2025. Leadership turbulence, safety concerns, and soaring operating costs have contributed to these exits. Without rapid modernization and policy reforms, Kuwait risks economic stagnation, loss of global connections, and declining appeal for businesses, workers, and students.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• IndiGo Airlines cabin crew member assaulted on Delhi-Shirdi flight
• IndiGo Airlines flight from Jaipur faces rare twin-engine failure
• Newark Airport staffing shortage leads United Airlines to cut flights
• United Airlines extends Chicago O’Hare routes for Winter 2025-26
• United Airlines Halts All Tel Aviv Flights Over Fears
