KUWAIT: Kuwait Airways’ officials welcome pilgrims who arrived from Jeddah at the new Terminal 4 (T4) on Thursday. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait Airways said yesterday that all Hajj flights from Jeddah, Taif and Madinah will arrive via Kuwait’s international airport (T1). Kuwait Airways affirmed on its official Twitter account the arrival of passengers coming from pilgrimage trips for yesterday and today only continues through the new Terminal 4 (T4). Flights departing to and from Dubai continue through the new T4, it added.

Kuwait Airways received the first Hajj flight carrying 317 passengers from Jeddah at the new Terminal 4 (T4) late on Thursday. Kuwait Airways, in cooperation with the General Administration of Civil Aviation, headed by Sheikh Salman Al- Homoud Al-Sabah, was keen to receive the first group of pilgrims through the new passenger’s Terminal 4 (T4), Kuwait Airways Board Chairman Yousef Al-Jassem said in a press statement.

The arrival of the pilgrims to T4 stems from the interest of the state by its sectors to the pilgrims, and to make sure they arrive smoothly and comfortably, through easy and simple procedures, Jassem added. These procedures are also part of the initial operating plan of the company (Incheon) in coordination with civil aviation, pointing out that this trip will be followed by a number of trips (up to 12) in the coming days which will carry 3,800 Kuwaiti pilgrims, the Chairman said.

Jassem affirmed the success of the initial operating plan through the new building, which will contribute greatly to increase the number of flights in the coming days in coordination with civil aviation and the operator company of the building. The Board Chairman congratulated Saudi Arabia on the success of the Hajj season this year. Meanwhile, Acting Director of Civil Aviation Emad Al-Jalawi said that civil aviation is proud to operate T4 in record time, expressing the administration’s pleasure in participating in receiving the first group of pilgrims coming to Kuwait through this building.

T4 designed to facilitate the passage of passengers through easy services provided, said Chief Executive of Kuwait Airways Abdullah Al-Sharhan. The new building (T4) is located in the northern region of Kuwait International Airport and covers an area of about 55,000 square meters and includes 14 gates divided into nine bridges and five ground gates.

The new terminal aims to reduce the congestion of the current building. T4 accommodates about 4.5 million passengers annually. It also provides more than 2,000 parking spaces, 50 check-in counters and special-purpose counters as well as providing all services to travelers such as Duty Free and commercial services. Kuwait Airways was established in 1953 as a private company under the name of Kuwait National Airlines Limited. The government of Kuwait acquired 100 percent of its ownership in 1962 and has around 40 destinations around the world. — KUNA