Air India Express has resumed flights to Kuwait and Salalah. The airline suspended both routes during recent West Asia disruptions. Passengers can now book seats on these Gulf routes again.
Why The Flights Were Suspended
A drone and missile attack hit Kuwait International Airport on June 3. The strike damaged Terminal 1, the airport's main international terminal. Airlines paused services while officials checked the damage. Air India Express also faced disruptions on other Gulf routes during the wider West Asia conflict. Oman's airspace stayed open through most of the crisis. Still, some Salalah services were hit due to knock on scheduling issues.
How The Resumption Is Happening
Kuwait's aviation authority allowed foreign airlines back from June 18. Airlines are now operating out of Terminal 4 instead of the damaged Terminal 1. Emirates, flydubai, and Air Arabia led the first wave of returning carriers. Air India Express is now rebuilding its Kuwait schedule from this same terminal. The airport currently allows flights only between 4am and 10pm. This limited window means fewer daily slots for every airline.
What This Means For Passengers
Kuwait hosts a large Indian expatriate community. Many workers rely on Air India Express for direct, affordable travel home. The route forms part of a busy labour and family visit corridor. Salalah connects Air India Express with Indian cities like Kochi and Kozhikode. Renewed access to both cities should ease backlogs built up during the suspension. Passengers with affected bookings can typically rebook or claim refunds through the airline.
The Bigger Picture For Gulf Travel
Airlines across the region are recovering step by step from months of disruption. Terminal 1 at Kuwait airport remains closed for repairs. Full capacity is not expected until that work finishes. Airlines including IndiGo and Turkish Airlines are also restoring Kuwait services gradually. Air India Express has already rebuilt several other Gulf routes this year. These include Bahrain, Doha, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia after earlier suspensions. The airline is likely to keep adjusting schedules as regional conditions stay fluid.
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