IATA Warns Kuwait Airport Recovery Could Take a Year After Strike Damage

IATA warned that Kuwait’s main international airport terminal could face disruptions for up to a year after strike-related damage, announced at the 82nd Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Rio de Janeiro. IATA Regional Vice-President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Alawadhi, said initial assessments indicate severe terminal damage as authorities evaluate the full extent. The affected terminal handles most foreign carriers; Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways currently operate through separate terminals. Options under consideration include accelerating the construction of Terminal 2 or temporarily routing other carriers through terminals reserved for national carriers, while a formal restoration timeline remains undisclosed. Travelers may face higher fares as airlines adjust to the disruption.