Kuwait opens new airport terminal increasing capacity to 25m annually
Kuwait International Airport recently inaugurated its new passenger terminal increasing its annual capacity to 25 million by 2022 and creating thousands of jobs for the country’s aviation industry, the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) announced.
The new terminal, which will be the hub of Kuwait Airways, stretches over 225,000 square meters. It has 14 gates, duty free shops and parking space with a capacity of 2,450 cars.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah graced the opening ceremony of the new Terminal 4 (T4) at Kuwait International Airport with the Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Minister of State for Services Affairs Jenan Mohsen Ramadan and Director General of Civil Aviation Sheikh Salman Sabah Al Salem Al Hamoud Al Sabah.
His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Speaker of the National Assembly Marzooq Ali Al-Ghanim, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and senior state officials, were also in attendance.
The government says the increasing number of travelers require Kuwait to step up its development efforts in aviation. Apart from handling more passengers, the new terminal is designed to provide necessary job opportunities for Kuwaitis at the Civil Aviation Department and will develop the capabilities of the national carrier Kuwait Airways.
Al-Sabah thanked His Highness the Amir for supporting aviation projects in Kuwait and noted that the T4 project, part of Kuwait’s Development Vision 2035, was planned and completed within a record time of two years.
He added that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) aims to turn Kuwait into a very active regional aviation center.
The DGCA also aimed to keep up with the growing numbers of passengers, which is expected to reach 40 million passengers annually by 2037, with an expected annual income of no less than $800 million and about 40,000 job opportunities, he noted.
Sheikh Salman said the DGCA’s development plan would focus on investing in manpower, providing local and international training for Kuwaiti youth in the aviation sector. It also involved issuing new aviation laws in Kuwait in accordance with international laws and legislations.
He said the plan includes developing infrastructure and boosting partnership between public and private sectors.
