Kuwait will accommodate over 50m passengers in few years: Al-Waqyan

47 leadership posts vacant in MGRP

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 8: Deputy Director General for Airport Affairs Eng. Fahad AlWaqyan affirmed that Kuwait will be able to accommodate more than 50 million passengers in the next few years, reports Al-Nahar daily.

He indicated that the passenger terminal T2 building, which is being executed by Ministry of Public Works, will be completed on time before the deadline set in 2022 such that it will be able to accommodate about 25 million passengers.

In an interview, Eng. Al-Waqyan revealed about a study being conducted by the senior management of Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) to construct a building opposite the Ministry of Public Works building for accommodating about 25 million passengers, as well as another building in line with the rapid execution plans for accommodating 15 million passengers.

He explained that the actual operation of the passenger terminal T4 building of Kuwait Airways will contain many facilities that can ease congestion in the old airport. The Jazeera Airways building and Kuwait Airways building accommodate about seven million passengers — 4.5 million in the Kuwait Airways building and 2.5 million in Jazeera Airways building.

Establishment

When asked about the establishment of a new airport in Kuwait, Eng. Al-Waqyan said studies indicate it is difficult to establish a new airport in the north or south of Kuwait due to population and environmental considerations, revealing that there is another study aimed at establishing an airport in Mutla area, but it will not be an international airport, rather a military or commercial airport.

Meanwhile, a total of 47 leadership posts in the Manpower and Government Restructuring Program (MGRP) are currently vacant, while some officials are waiting for approval of their retirement, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting sources.

Sources disclosed the vacant posts include two assistant undersecretaries, 10 directors of departments, 15 supervisors and 20 heads of departments, adding that 60 employees have resigned.

Sources said the resignations and retirements caused the delay in implementing the decision to merge MGRP with the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM).