The Cabinet’s recent decision to open ‘travel for all’ has revived the air ticket reservations market, which witnessed an 88% increase, according to an official source in the travel and tourism sector.
Al-Qabas has learned the demand for tickets starting from February 20 has ‘exceeded the limit’, coinciding with the national holidays that extend until March 5, which doubles the movement of passengers and outbound and inbound commercial flights at Kuwait International Airport.
The sources added the issuance of decisions to open up and ease travel restrictions led to an increase in reservations and pointed out that, according to the statistics of the International Air Transport Association, the total number of travel tickets sold during the past days was 222,000, a significant increase compared to the same period last year, amid expectations of more reservations after the epidemic wave recedes and travel restrictions are eased.
The sources indicated the value of ticket sales during January was about 17.5 million dinars.
The concerned authorities have made preparations to facilitate the movement of incoming and outgoing passengers as of next Sunday, Feb 20 – the date that travel restrictions for all will be eased, amid continuous preventive health measures, while approvals to increase flights are expected to be completed within the coming days to keep pace with the gradual opening.
The sources pointed out hundreds of thousands of people will spend the national holidays abroad, which require putting into service additional flights.
The source praised the decision of the Council of Ministers to allow everyone to travel, indicating that this step will contribute to moving the travel and aviation sectors, which have witnessed heavy losses during the past two years as a result of closures in some Gulf, Arab and European countries.
5 indicators of airport momentum
1- Double the number of reservations
2- Facilitating arrival and departure procedures
3- Keeping pace with the openness of many countries
4- Continuation of preventive health measures
5- Preparations to increase the number of flights
