Kuwait-based carrier Jazeera Airways will begin daily flights to and from Qaisumah Airport and Al Ain International Airport from March 18, to maintain travel links amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
According to CEO Barathan Pasupathi, the new routes will expand the airline’s network, apart from facilitating travel to and from Kuwait. Flyers will be transported safely by bus between Saudi Arabia’s Qaisumah Airport and Kuwait.
In response to the current geopolitical situation, Jazeera Airways’ flights will also provide access to international destinations through nearby hubs such as Dubai International Airport and Zayed International Airport, supporting essential and business travel.
In fact, the opening of the routes has been implemented under the carrier’s “Operation Barakah,” Jazeera Airways, as Kuwait faces the challenge of maintaining connectivity with the wider Gulf region and the rest of the world, as the Iran conflict has severely disrupted aviation activities across the Gulf, with airports even resorting to temporary suspension of flights.
During a meeting with staffers at Jazeera Airways’ Kuwait headquarters, Barathan Pasupathi termed the current situation “unprecedented,” adding that it has forced the airline to operate under “extraordinary circumstances.” Despite this, Jazeera Airways has emerged as the only airline maintaining operational connectivity linked to Kuwait.
“As a Kuwaiti airline, our role is clear at this stage. We will continue to serve Kuwait to the best of our ability, bringing back Kuwaitis and residents stranded abroad while enabling travellers with urgent or essential needs to continue their journeys,” CEO Barathan Pasupathi said.
Under “Operation Barakah,” flights are currently operating through Saudi Arabia’s Al Qaisumah Airport, thanks to the close cooperation between the airline and the authorities in both the Gulf countries.
While noting the Kuwaiti community’s active role in supporting the airline’s growth for over two decades, Barathan Pasupathi termed “Operation Barakah” as the carrier’s duty to give back by helping maintain the Gulf nation’s global connectivity.
In the coming weeks, Jazeera Airways will further expand “Operation Barakah,” while preparing for the full resumption of normal services from Kuwait once conditions allow. The initiative also posed a logistical challenge for the carrier, as it had to redeploy more than 300 employees and nearly 10 aircraft, apart from transporting equipment, supplies, and spare parts by road to support the airline’s temporary base of operations.
Hailing his company, CEO Barathan Pasupathi said the scale of the operation further highlighted the resilience and dedication of the airline’s workforce when it comes to maintaining Kuwait’s link with global destinations during a difficult period.