It’s kinda crazy how overnight we basically doubled the number of airport terminals in Kuwait. Since its starting to get a bit complicated with the different namings, I figured I’d share the list below to help clear things up along with pictures.
Terminal 1
This is our current main terminal. It was opened in 1979 and was designed by one of the most significant architects of the 20th century, Kenzō Tange. The British architect and critic Stephen Gardiner wrote in 1985 that it was “the most beautiful airport in the world” because of its “breathtaking simplicity of color and shape.” It is “white sculptured space as cool as an ice-cube, as enormous as a vat intake of pure air, as light as a tent, as canvas hung from cables and sails.” The airport today no longer resembles the original one due to the amount of refurbishment it went through. There are no plans to demolish this airport, but once Terminal 2 opens up I hope someone decides to take it back to its original state. For more pictures of the airport, click [Here]
Terminal 2
This is the new and huge terminal that was designed by the British architecture studio Foster + Partners. It’s currently under construction and is expected to be completed in 2021. This is going to be a world-class terminal that will be able to compete with the likes of Hamad International Airport in Qatar and the Emirates Airline Terminal 3 in Dubai. For more pictures, click [Here]
Terminal 3
The Sheikh Saad terminal originally started off as a private planes terminal but later became the Wataniya Airways terminal. After Wataniya Airways shutdown, FlyDubai took it over. Until recently, flying with FlyDubai was the only way to avoid our horrible main terminal. But, now that the Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways terminals are opening up, Sheikh Saad terminal will no longer have an edge.
Terminal 4
This is the new Kuwait Airways terminal and is expected to be operational in June. The new terminal is located near the cargo terminal. Here is the location on [Google Maps]. This terminal will help ease congestion at the main terminal until Terminal 2 opens up in 2021. For more pictures, click [Here]
Terminal 5
Finally, Terminal 5 is the Jazeera Airways terminal I posted about last week. This terminal is now basically complete and will be open at the end of this month. Right now the terminal will cater only to Jazeera Airways flights but there are talks about possibly hosting another airline as well, possibly Emirates. For a complete walkthrough and pictures of this terminal, click [Here]
Future Terminal Expansion
In case needed, there are plans in place that can expand Terminal 2 to double the size. My guess if that happens, either the terminal will still be called Terminal 2, or they might be renamed to Terminal 2a and Terminal 2b. After expansion the terminal will be able to handle 50 million passengers a year. In comparisson, our current main terminal handles 6.8 million a year.
34 replies on “List of All the New Airport Terminals”
I hope they buy a few carts for the secure area near the gates the 4 they have now just don’t cut it.
i didn’t understand
So the old airport will continue to operate after the new airport (AKA Terminal 2) opens in 2021?
knowing how things are here sometimes, they might keep the airport for all the flights to south asian countries.
Expat Airport and Citizens Airport
😂😂😂
That will be the final straw for me to leave Kuwait for good
Thats your last straw???
Having separate lines for security checks, I suppose its already halfway there.
Every airport has separate lines for security checks and immigration. Citizens get priority in EVERY AIRPORT IN THE WORLD.
Wrong.
There are separate lines for immigration/passport control, like schengen/non-schengen. Security check is common regardless of the passport.
Wrong.
Clearly you haven’t been anywhere. Security checks are often separated by passport, fast track, business/first class, etc.
I have been around my fair share and so I feel I’m in a reasonable position to comment. Thank you.
Yes, there are separate queues for fast track and premium class passengers. But I stand by what I have said. Please cite another airport as an example where security check is segregated solely on the basis of passport not on class of travel. Ofcourse, where the desks for both kinds of passport holders are right next to each other.
There are plenty of instances of non conformity thanks to which there are no direct flights operating to the US from here.
The reason security checks in Kuwait are segregated is because of the way the flow is set up. The security check is before passport control.
Passport control around the world is segregated citizens vs rest of the world, in Kuwait its no different.
I think you mean all the South Asian “airlines”, not flights.
same same
I said that once… you should have learnt from my mistake.
With the new airport, Jazeera will dominate KWI-Dubai route. It’d be very odd to lose that edge to Emirates.
But they’re competing with Emirates on cost, not terminal vs terminal. But in any case, the only reason I mentioned Emirates is because when I was touring the terminal some of the check-in screens had the Emirates logo. If you zoom in to this image you’ll see what I’m talking about https://imgur.com/Vdvbaiv
It might not be Emirates though, thats just my guess and does make sense since Emirates do care about the terminal they fly out from. Its why they have their own business class lounge at the current terminal.
Jazeera airways can earn money from Airport fees in addition. This will be better utilization of their investment.
T4 will actually be used by Kuwait Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Gulf Air, and Middle East Airlines.
source?
That info turned out to be false. It is exclusively for Kuwait Airways
Some questions come to mind:
What will happen to Terminals 1,3,4,5 when Terminal 2 (the new airport) opens ?
Lots of money invested on these terminals, I wonder what will happen to them.
I love Mark’s suggestion of redesigning the existing airport to take it to the original design state when the new terminal opens.
Well if you look at Dubai, they have multiple terminals as well and each caters to different airlines. FlyDubai uses different terminal from Emirates for example. Same thing would apply here.
Thanks Mark,
Wow !!! Handling 50 Million Passengers a Year….
What’s going to attract so many passengers to Kuwait ?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiqQ6R2A-WV/?hl=en&taken-by=tafteesh_kw
I don’t understand how they allowed bars and clubs to close.. along with people’s minds.
Hope they revamp the staff at the airport as well 🙂
100%
The naming is not quite right…Terminal 3 is reserved to be the mirror image of terminal 2 when they decide to expand it.
Nop you said yourself when they expand terminal 2 so an expansion of the terminal can’t be a new terminal, it’s just an expansion. I agree with Mark 2a and 2b is very appropriate.
Will be there be a way to move from one terminal to the other?
Mashallah, great news – thanks for the list!