Kuwait is restarting direct commercial flights to the United Kingdom on Thursday, June 17, officials have confirmed.

The country had suspended commercial flights to and from Britain from January 6 due to concerns about the spread of a new strain of Covid-19.

Flights are resuming between the two countries after the Kuwaiti Cabinet last week instructed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to allow direct flights to the UK, the official Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.

DGCA director for Planning and Projects Affairs Saad Al-Otaibi told KUNA that Kuwait Airways, Jazeera Airways and British Airways are the only three carriers that have been licenced to operate direct flights to and from London Heathrow Airport.

He urged all passengers to register on the Kuwait Mosafer platform, in addition to the Shlonik app 24 hours before their departure.

Kuwaiti airlines are planning to operate summer flights to London, since it is a favorite destination for many Kuwaitis, the report stated.

The Kuwait-London-Kuwait is one of the oldest routes operated by Kuwait Airways, and has been operational since 1964.

The total number of passengers at Kuwait International Airport reached 92,306 in May, an increase of 193 per cent compared to May 2020 – when strict travel restrictions were in place.

The number of flights operated during the month reached 2,069, an increase of 96 per cent year-on-year, according to Otaibi.