03/07/2018
Statements to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on the Inauguration of the New Passengers Building (T4)
H.E. President of Civil Aviation Sheikh Salman Al-Homoud: The inauguration of the New Passengers Building (T4) under the patronage and presence of His Highness the Amir, confirms the concern of His Highness to the air-transport sector. H.E. President of Civil Aviation Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al- Homoud Al-Sabah said that the patronage and presence of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for the inauguration ceremony of the New Passengers Building (T4) at Kuwait International Airport is a clear indication of His Highness's concern to develop the air-transport sector in the country. In a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) today - Wednesday on the side of inaugurating the New Passengers Building (T4), Sheikh Salman Al-Homoud added that the Civil Aviation is adopting several plans to develop and modernize the infrastructure at Kuwait International Airport. He explained that this year Kuwait International Airport has witnessed the inauguration of two buildings namely the new passenger building (T4) designated for the flights of Kuwait Airways Company, and the new building designated for Jazeera Airlines (T5), as well as several development projects including the new passenger building (T2) which will be inaugurated within the coming years . (2) He stated that these development projects will constitute a new addition to Kuwait International Airport, and will alleviate pressure on the existing main building (T1) and also provide additional services and comfort to passengers, pointing out that the new passengers building (T4) will be operated by a global company specialized in airport management, the matter which will add "distinct services, better return to the State, and better reputation for the aviation sector in the country”. For his part, Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation – Eng. Yousef Al-Fouzan said in a similar statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the inauguration of the new passengers building comes within the strategic plan of the management of Civil Aviation to make Kuwait a commercial and financial center in the region hence achieve the Royal Amiri vision in this regard. Eng. Al-Fouzan added that Civil Aviation has prepared three strategic plans, where the first (short-term) is the one we are witnessing today in terms of improvements at Kuwait International Airport, and the second is medium-term and includes the inauguration of the passengers building (T4), which construction lasted for 20 months. He added that the third long-term strategic plan includes the construction of the passengers building (T2), the third runway of 4.5 kilometers length, the construction of a new control tower and other vital projects. For his part, Chairman of Kuwait Airways Company – Mr. Yousef Al- Jassim told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that "This is a historic (3) day that will not be forgotten since it is under the patronage of our father and Amir - Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah." Mr. Al-Jassim added that "I call this building “Kuwait Airways Bitak” as this is the first time in the company’s history to have a passengers building exclusively for itself, which will make the passengers recognize the qualitative transition in rendering the services." Mr. Al-Jassim explained that the new passengers building (T4) will help “Kuwait Airways” to avoid several previous obstacles and barriers it encountered in rendering the services at the current airport (T1), which was due to the enormous pressure and increase in number of passengers. Mr. Al-Jassim pointed out that the building will be operated initially on August 8 and will be fully operational by the end of the same month in collaboration with the “Civil Aviation”, private authorities in the Ministry of Interior, Customs Department, Incheon International Airport Group and other competent authorities. He stated that building (T4), which is designated to Kuwaiti Airways Company and building (T5) designated to Jazeera Airlines, will both alleviate the pressure on the main airport building by nearly 60%. He added that the new passengers building (T2), expected to open in year 2022, will be a landmark in air-transport sector in Kuwait as the company will move to it and hence its passengers will feel (4) comfortable and extremely taken care of in providing the services to them. He expressed his thanked His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, for their full support as well as the efforts of the “Civil Aviation” and the other bodies towards completing and inaugurating the new building. For his part, the official spokesman for “Civil Aviation” Eng. Saad Al-Otaibi told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the patronage and presence of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait for the inauguration ceremony of the New Passengers Building (T-4) constitutes a major support for the management of Civil Aviation to proceed with the efforts and dedication in serving our beloved country Kuwait. Eng. Al-Otaibi said that the new building has a capacity of 4.5 Million passengers annually, and will be a new addition to Kuwait International Airport. Moreover, it will alleviate burden on the current main building, and will also provide distinctive services to the passengers of Kuwait Airways. He added that the new building is located in the northern area of Kuwait International Airport and covers an area of nearly 55,000 square meters. It contains 14 gates for departure, of which 9 are bridge-gates and 5 are ground gates. In addition to 10 gates for arrival, of which 9 are bridge-gates and 1 is ground gate. (5) He stated that the purpose of the passengers building is to reduce the load and overcrowding on the existing building, as it accommodates nearly 4.5 Million passengers per year. Besides, it will make available 1800 car-parking spaces, in addition to providing all services to travelers such as duty-free market and integrated commercial services. He explained that the Passengers Building (T4) will prompt balance in passengers traffic at the International Airport and Sheikh Saad Airport Building (T3) as well as the Jazeera passengers building (T5), hence will alleviate pressure on Kuwait International Airport and provide better services for the comfort of the incoming and outgoing passengers until the opening of the New Passengers Building (T2) in year 2022. He stated that Kuwait International Airport is expected to witness a qualitative transition in air-transport with the actual entry of the Passengers Building (T4) into operation, as the traffic at the airport is expected to increase by 10%. He added that, the New Passengers Building (T4) Project will provide about 2,000 jobs for Kuwaiti engineers and skilled workers, and will generate additional revenues for the State of nearly US. Dollars 60 Million per year, noting that this project has received support from all government bodies hence it was completed within the planned period. He concluded by saying that Kuwait Airways, which was founded in year 1953 and considered among the oldest airlines company in the Arabian Gulf region, was incorporated as a private company under (6) the name of “Kuwait National Airlines Limited”. The Kuwaiti government acquired 100% ownership of the company in year 1962, and it operates on nearly 40 destinations around the world.