Kuwait to indefinitely ban flights to the UK

Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a circular to airlines on Sunday, January 3, stating that it would be temporarily suspending all direct commercial flights between Kuwait International Airport and the UK from 4am local time on Wednesday, January 6.

It said the decision was based on the instructions received by the health authorities within the country to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus, and that the suspension would remain in effect until further notice.

Saad Al-Otaibi, spokesman of the directorate, told Kuwait News Agency that it would review the decision at a later point after receiving further instructions from the health authorities.

الطيران المدني : تعليق الرحلات التجارية المباشرة في مطار الكويت الدولي من والى المملكة المتحدة اعتباراً من يوم الأربعاء الموافق 6 يناير 2021. pic.twitter.com/mwgtwAmPox

— الطيران المدني (@Kuwait_DGCA) January 3, 2021

Al-Otaibi added that the DGCA had instituted a range of measures to combat the virus, especially the new strain, by now mandating that all incoming passengers undergo a PCR test prior to boarding their flights to Kuwait.

These passengers will also be subjected to another PCR test at Kuwait airport upon their arrival.

الطيران المدني : بناء على تعليمات السلطات الصحية سيتم اجراء فحص PCR من قبل الطواقم الطبية المتواجدة في مطار الكويت الدولي على كافة الركاب القادمين لدولة الكويت . pic.twitter.com/VKmksVvvJU

— الطيران المدني (@Kuwait_DGCA) January 3, 2021

On December 21, Kuwait become the third GCC state to close its borders and suspend all international flights due to concerns about the new strain of Covid-19 that was first identified in the UK.

However, it resumed flights to and from Kuwait International Airport and reopened its land and sea border crossings on Friday, January 1, 2021.

Read: Covid-19 new strain: Kuwait joins Oman, Saudi in suspending flights, closing its borders

On Sunday, January 3, Kuwait reported 269 new infections in the country, raising the total number of cases to 151,343.