Director of Operations Department at the General Administration of Civil Aviation Mansour Al-Hashimi said that about 167,000 passengers traveling on 1064 flights have departed from Kuwait since mid-March until today, reports Al Rai daily.
A number of expats left for their home countries after a number of countries allowed flights to land in their airports after flights were suspended for a period due to the coronavirus pandemic. The most prominent destinations for traveling expats were to Egypt, Beirut, India, Dubai and Jordan. Strict instructions were given to all passengers departing through Kuwait International Airport to comply with health requirements by wearing masks, hand gloves and adhering to social distancing.
In addition, anyone accompanying the expats were not allowed to enter to prevent congestion in the departure hall.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has enhanced its operations at Kuwait Airport in various sectors to meet the high interest from expats, who want to return to their home countries, as the coronavirus situations has made life difficult from layoffs to salary cuts.
Several requirements have been adopted to restart commercial flights in Kuwait, including the approval to travel to Kuwait through an Kuwait-Traveler website/app to facilitate travel procedures and issue all requirements and work procedures for all government agencies and airlines. The plan consists of three main phases, where the first starts from August 1 and will last 6 months with operation of no more than 30 percent and the expected number of passengers up-till 10,000 passengers per day and a maximum expected flights up-till 100 flights per day.
The second stage starts from 1 February, 2021 and also lasts 6 months with an operating rate of no more than 60 percent and the expected number of passengers is to reach 20,000 passengers per day and the expected maximum number of flights is 200 flights per day. As for the third stage, it will start from 1 August, 2021, with 100 percent operations, the expected number of passengers is more than 30,000 passengers per day, and the expected maximum number of flights is 300 flights per day.
The passengers coming to Kuwait International Airport have to carry a certified health certificate (PCR) to show their coronavirus negative status and compulsory for them to register on the (Shlonk) application before boarding the aircraft. In addition, the person has to sign a commitment to adhere to the Ministry of Health’s instructions, either home or Institutional quarantine. The other requirement is to check the temperature of all passengers before boarding the aircraft and to comply with health requirements in terms of wearing masks and gloves, use of sterilizers and adherence to physical distance.
For departing passengers, health certificates are issued by health centers inside Kuwait International Airport which is approved by the Ministry of Health to prove that the passenger has tested negative from coronavirus, according to the requirements of each country. It is also necessary to comply with health requirements in terms of wearing masks and gloves, the use of sterilizers and a commitment to physical distancing within the airport buildings.