Kuwait opens new airport terminal

Kuwait Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah yesterday launched a new terminal at the Kuwait International Airport as part of an ambitious plan to boost the country’s air traffic, the official Kuwaiti news agency KUNA reported.

The terminal T4 lies in the northern part of the airport on an area of 55,000 square metres. The 14-gate facility is designed to handle 4.5 million passengers annually and pump into the state coffers an additional $60 million (Dh220 million), according to KUNA.

Addressing the ceremony, Minister of State for Services Affairs, Janan Mohsen, said that Kuwait aims to increase the airport’s passenger capacity from an annual 7 million at present to 25 million by 2022.

Following the launch, the Emir toured the terminal.

The new terminal is part of the government’s efforts to enhance Kuwait’s air transport system under the “Kuwait 2035 Vision” scheme aimed at turning the country into a regional investorfriendly and trade hub.

In 2016, Kuwait’s Civil Aviation Authority signed a $172.3-million contract with two Korean and Kuwaiti companies to build the terminal.

In May, the state agency contracted a South Korean corporation to operate and maintain the facility envisaged to create 2,000 jobs.

Kuwait also plans to open a new passenger terminal at the same airport in 2022.