Kuwait ministers ‘proud’ of new airport terminal’s maiden flight
Kuwait Airways commissions first flight from T4 to Bahrain
MANAMA, Aug 8, (KUNA): A pair of Kuwaiti ministers said on Wednesday that the first flight that took off from Kuwait International Airport’s newlybuilt Terminal 4 (T4), which landed in neighboring Bahrain, was a profound accomplishment.
“This milestone event will help propel the local aviation industry to new heights,” Minister of Finance Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf said in a statement, pointing out that the new terminal will provide nationals with new job opportunities.
The minister expected a spike of up to 10 percent in passenger traffic at the airport with the completion of T4.
The terminal, which solely serves the national carrier Kuwait Airways, will allow the airline to revamp its itinerary, Minister for Housing and Services Jenan Boushehri said.
T4’s inaugural flight took to the skies earlier on Wednesday with much fanfare to land in the Bahraini capital Manama, with a phalanx of senior officials and local journalists onboard.
Kuwait Airways, the first airline to take off from the new Terminal 4 (T4) at Kuwait International Airport, arrived at Bahrain International Airport Wednesday.
Kuwait Airways Board Chairman Youssef Al-Jassem said, in a statement to KUNA, said that starting from August 15, four commercial flights will be operated.
Increase
The ‘Blue Bird’ will have its own building, with the hope to increase total number of regular daily flights to 92, he added.
Through the T4, 25 of the latest models will takeoff and 4.6 million passengers by the end of this year will be flying, with an estimated increase of half-a-million passengers each year.
Al-Jassem added that 33,600 regular flights each year would connect 43 cities In 26 countries.
The T4 and T5 buildings contribute in reducing pressure on the main airport by 60 percent, he said.
Al-Jassem expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Bahrain for its great interest and hospitality of this commissioned trip.
The delegation onboard the flight included , Minister of Finance Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf and Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Minister of State for Services’ Affairs Jenan Boushehri, KUNA Editor-in-Chief for Editorial Affairs Saad Al-Ali and a host of local press people.
Bahrain’s Minister of Finance Sheikh Ahmad Bin Mohammed, Minister of Communications Kamal Bin Ahmed and Kuwait’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Sheikh Azzam Al-Sabah, were among the recipients.
The T4 was inaugurated on July 4 under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as part of His Highness’ vision to turn Kuwait into a commercial and financial center in the region.
Meanwhile, Bahrain’s prime minister on Wednesday heaped praise on His Highness the Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as a leader whose accomplishments are immeasurable, on the same day where a new Kuwaiti airport terminal launched its inaugural flight.
Bahrain is honored to have been the destination for the first flight to take off from Kuwait International Airport’s new Terminal 4 (T4), Prince Khalifa bin Salman told a delegation of Kuwaiti officials and journalists, all of whom were onboard the maiden flight.