TheGeordielad wrote:

Some restrictions by governments to protect their very own carriers like in Dubai they were launching FlyDubai at the time and didn't want anyone taking up space,Slots and most of all passengers.

Spiderguy252 wrote:

TheGeordielad wrote:

Some restrictions by governments to protect their very own carriers like in Dubai they were launching FlyDubai at the time and didn't want anyone taking up space,Slots and most of all passengers.

Yeah, it's funny how FlyDubai have been granted unlimited access to KWI with even their own dedicated terminal (Sheikh Saad), while Jazeera got booted out of DXB.

Politics at play there.

Spiderguy252 wrote:

TheGeordielad wrote:

Some restrictions by governments to protect their very own carriers like in Dubai they were launching FlyDubai at the time and didn't want anyone taking up space,Slots and most of all passengers.

Yeah, it's funny how FlyDubai have been granted unlimited access to KWI with even their own dedicated terminal (Sheikh Saad), while Jazeera got booted out of DXB.

Politics at play there.

PerfectGriffin wrote:

Spiderguy252 wrote:

TheGeordielad wrote:

Some restrictions by governments to protect their very own carriers like in Dubai they were launching FlyDubai at the time and didn't want anyone taking up space,Slots and most of all passengers.

Yeah, it's funny how FlyDubai have been granted unlimited access to KWI with even their own dedicated terminal (Sheikh Saad), while Jazeera got booted out of DXB.

Politics at play there.

That is one rumor but it's not necessarily true or not the only reason.

Jazeera was using DXB as a hub between 2007-09. But when EK asked the Kuwait authorities if they could set up a hub at KWI and get fifth-freedom rights from there, the Kuwait authorities refused. So Dubai in turn cut the rights for Jazeera at DXB.

CanadaFair wrote:

Saudia and Kuwait Airways used to route some flights via Dubai in 1970s/80s to subcontinent, one of KU aircraft got hijacked on the Dubai-Karachi sector.

On 3 December 1984, a Kuwait Airways flight from Kuwait City to Karachi, Pakistan, was hijacked by four Lebanese Shi'a hijackers and diverted to Tehran.[105] The hijackers' demand was the release of 17 Shi'ite Muslim prisoners for their role in the 1983 Kuwait bombings, which was not met. During the course of the stand-off women, children and Muslims were released and two American officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development, Charles Hegna and William Stanford, were shot dead and dumped on the tarmac. The few dozen passengers left on board, particularly Americans were threatened and tortured. "Every five minutes there was a frightening incident. There was no letup at all," British flight engineer Neil Beeston told the BBC.Paradoxically the hijackers released a statement claiming "We do not have any enmity toward anyone and we do not intend to deny the freedom of anyone or to frighten anyone..." On the sixth day of the grueling ordeal, Iranian security forces stormed the plane and released the remaining hostages. Authorities said they would be brought to trial, but the hijackers were released and allowed to leave the country. Some passengers and officials suggested complicity by Iran in the hijacking and that the hostage rescue had been staged. One Kuwaiti and two Pakistani passengers claimed that the hijackers received additional weapons and equipment once the plane had landed, including handcuffs and nylon ropes used to tie passengers to their seats. One American official wondered if the surrender was not preplanned: "You do not invite cleaners aboard an aeroplane after you have planted explosives, promised to blow up the plane, and read your last will and testament." The U.S. State Department announced a $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrests of those involved in the hijacking, but made no military response. Later press reports linked Hezbollah's Imad Mughniyah to the hijackings.

MoKa777 wrote:

Good question and it is quite strange that they are still as small as they are after all this time.

Kuwait authorities allegedly also play hard ball with KU which was rumoured to be the reason for their CEO quitting. According to an article I read at the time this news surfaced, foreign carriers were receiving more favourable treatment than the national carrier.

I am not entirely certain what form this more favourable treatment takes but the fact that there are 2 home carriers in a burgeoning, wealthy market failing to make any significant and lasting impact is suspicious.

Kuwait government also appears to drag it's feet with regards to airport infrastructure construction. Compared to it's neighbours, it seems to move at a snail's pace.

Air travel to and from Kuwait is apparently booming. The airport can barely handle current traffic and is, the last time I heard, operating way beyond it's capacity.

It is all really weird...

Cunard wrote:

3 Airports are under construction in Kuwait?

Do you mean three construction projects are taking place at Kuwait International Airport or actually three airports are currently under construction in Kuwait?

Monty1988 wrote:

Cunard wrote:

3 Airports are under construction in Kuwait?

Do you mean three construction projects are taking place at Kuwait International Airport or actually three airports are currently under construction in Kuwait?

I apologize I meant 3 new Terminals, Kuwait International T2, Kuwait Airways Supporting Terminal, Jazeera Airways Terminal, + New 4.5 KM 3rd Runway and new taxiway ways plus massive car parking.

MoKa777 wrote:

Monty1988 wrote:

Cunard wrote:

3 Airports are under construction in Kuwait?

Do you mean three construction projects are taking place at Kuwait International Airport or actually three airports are currently under construction in Kuwait?

I apologize I meant 3 new Terminals, Kuwait International T2, Kuwait Airways Supporting Terminal, Jazeera Airways Terminal, + New 4.5 KM 3rd Runway and new taxiway ways plus massive car parking.

Is a third runway really necessary?

Monty1988 wrote:

MoKa777 wrote:

Monty1988 wrote:

I apologize I meant 3 new Terminals, Kuwait International T2, Kuwait Airways Supporting Terminal, Jazeera Airways Terminal, + New 4.5 KM 3rd Runway and new taxiway ways plus massive car parking.

Is a third runway really necessary?

Yes very much needed specialy with KAC's fleet expansion, Wataniya airways making a return, Jazeera airways also is planning an expansion in its operations, KWI has been experiencing massive increase in traffic, As far as i know the new runway will be mainly used for heavy wide bodies, And the 2nd east runway will be enhanced as well.

MoKa777 wrote:

Monty1988 wrote:

Cunard wrote:

3 Airports are under construction in Kuwait?

Do you mean three construction projects are taking place at Kuwait International Airport or actually three airports are currently under construction in Kuwait?

I apologize I meant 3 new Terminals, Kuwait International T2, Kuwait Airways Supporting Terminal, Jazeera Airways Terminal, + New 4.5 KM 3rd Runway and new taxiway ways plus massive car parking.

Is a third runway really necessary?

B777LRF wrote:

MoKa777 wrote:

Monty1988 wrote:

I apologize I meant 3 new Terminals, Kuwait International T2, Kuwait Airways Supporting Terminal, Jazeera Airways Terminal, + New 4.5 KM 3rd Runway and new taxiway ways plus massive car parking.

Is a third runway really necessary?

Of course it's not needed, it's a vanity project which will mean lots of wasta in the 'right hands', but little of any real operational value. Compare, if you will, with LGW - a single runway airport.

In 2016 numbers
LGW: 275,633 movements& 43M passengers
In 2015 numbers
KWI: 100.000 movements & 11M passengers

KWI needs a third runway in the same way I need a third leg. Which is to say, not a lot.

Monty1988 wrote:

One of the current runways is mainly used by Military.

B777LRF wrote:

Monty1988 wrote:

One of the current runways is mainly used by Military.

It's only the transport arm of the KAF which is based at KWI. Or, as they call it, the Abdullah al-Mubarak Air Base. They employ a total of 8 airframes; 6 x C-130 and 2 x C-17. I'm not quite sure that warrents an entire runway for their sole use or maybe, with just a hint of pragmatism, that runway could also be utilised by commercial operators. I mean, it's hardly as if you've got a C-17 standing by for QRA duties!

But this is the ME we're talking about, even 'worse' a piece of real estate swimming in a sea of oil. A couple billion more or less hardly makes a difference, except for the person(s) at the receiving end of the wasta money.

Monty1988 wrote:

B777LRF wrote:

Monty1988 wrote:

One of the current runways is mainly used by Military.

It's only the transport arm of the KAF which is based at KWI. Or, as they call it, the Abdullah al-Mubarak Air Base. They employ a total of 8 airframes; 6 x C-130 and 2 x C-17. I'm not quite sure that warrents an entire runway for their sole use or maybe, with just a hint of pragmatism, that runway could also be utilised by commercial operators. I mean, it's hardly as if you've got a C-17 standing by for QRA duties!

But this is the ME we're talking about, even 'worse' a piece of real estate swimming in a sea of oil. A couple billion more or less hardly makes a difference, except for the person(s) at the receiving end of the wasta money.

Actually that's not correct most of coalition fighting ISIS logistical airplanes are using that runway, And the decision to add another runway is to make the airport future proof specialy with the launch of the new terminals and the new cargo city, anyhow that's that.

MoKa777 wrote:

Good question and it is quite strange that they are still as small as they are after all this time.

Kuwait authorities allegedly also play hard ball with KU which was rumoured to be the reason for their CEO quitting. According to an article I read at the time this news surfaced, foreign carriers were receiving more favourable treatment than the national carrier.

I am not entirely certain what form this more favourable treatment takes but the fact that there are 2 home carriers in a burgeoning, wealthy market failing to make any significant and lasting impact is suspicious.

Kuwait government also appears to drag it's feet with regards to airport infrastructure construction. Compared to it's neighbours, it seems to move at a snail's pace.

Air travel to and from Kuwait is apparently booming. The airport can barely handle current traffic and is, the last time I heard, operating way beyond it's capacity.

It is all really weird...