According to a recent news report on Al Rai, the Kuwait Airport have updated the security screening stations on departure. The airport increased the security stations from a previous total of four to a new total of six. One station for first/business class passengers as well as flight crew, two for GCC residents and three machines now for expats.
On a related note, Kuwait Airways no longer flies direct to New York but instead has to stop in Ireland for a security check before continuing to the States. I understood that it’s due to the poor security checks at the Kuwait Airport. United Airlines stopped their Kuwait – Washington route earlier this year and one of the rumored reasons was because of poor airport security and it makes sense now. Last year there were also rumors that British Airways would halt all flights from Kuwait unless security at the airport was improved.
28 replies on “Security Screening Updates at the Kuwait Airport”
I was wondering why my flight next week to JFK was delayed by three hours…
if the security screening is poor or below standard, what makes the travel safe by having a stop over at Ireland?
What’s the guarantee for the travel between Kuwait and Ireland?
America doesn’t care about Kuwait to Ireland, they want to make sure all flights flying into the States are properly checked so they’ll check the passengers in Ireland.
I agree with mark.
i think this is like a house of cards moment,USA now worrying about kuwait airport security after kuwait refuse to take israeli passengers
spot on +1
True…
Pretty girl! I didn’t understand a word, God bless her! No pun intended.
My thoughts exactly. Pretty confident in her delivery. Must be from General Adel Al-Hashash’s team.
I think he’s Brigadier. Nevertheless, I was taking about the girl/lady.
United stopped it’s flight to Kuwait & Bahrain, & Delta stopped Dubai because of very low yields nothing else, The Airport is undergoing new security shakeup, And a new very strict British security firm is handling the security at the airport right now, All Kuwait Airways flights to the US have air marshals on them so their isn’t any threats, The US is just flexing its muscles on Kuwait after Kuwait Airways denied to carry Israeli passengers & dropped It’s 5th freedom right instead of accepting their transportation, The airport is due to TSA audit again and will pass and KU direct flights will resume, British Airways has no issues.
I wish someone would outline the exact security shortcomings in Kuwait airport. Is it the procedures or the competence of those implementing them? I.e. a worker fiddling with their phone while screening bags?
Why make seperate screening areas for expats and nationals? I understand when its for passport desks, but for security screening?
Its the same the world over. Come to London and you’ll see the Brits sent to a separate line.
Not to go through security. Security is split in to fast track and regular at UK airports. Fast Track is for Business/First and Silver/Gold card holders. Everyone else is together. They have separate lines for EU Passports currently but we will have to see what happens with that in the next few years!
Happens all around the globe dude don’t make a fuse about it.
Many countries separate nationals from foreigners.
No big deal who’s on which queue. As long as the staff of Kuwait airport are polite well mannered. I find Kuwait airport quite intimidating esp at immigration desk when they stare and mutter
Was that a cop or a model?
She was mint. I wouldn’t mind she screening me all over…lol
I flew BA Kuwait to London; I don’t know if it is normal but the security at the gate made Women remove their jewellery, all metal stuff and made us take out electronic items for a separate screening.
It seemed all new to me.
Security at Kuwait airport was a joke. The whole time we were there we were always concerned as they never look at the screens, they don’t check anyone who sets off the metal detectors and they don’t seem to care. I am glad to be out of there as I never felt safe. If I was looking for a weak airport to plan an attack I would head straight there! It’s scary.
She can have my Civil ID any day.
damn, thats a huge slap on the face!
UNITED didn’t leave because of security, the only reason they had the flight was the govt contract it had from the USA to ferry personnel involved in Iraq to and from the states. Once the operations in Iraq winded down, they opened up Bahrain from Kuwait to pick up extra traffic and serve the US Navy based there. Later on UNITED also started flights to Dubai that continued on to Doha. The Doha flights were the first to go, and soon after UNITED announced they were pulling out of the whole GCC region. The UNITED flights started as daily to Kuwait before being reduced to 4x per week towards the end. When the flights started back in 2006, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, and Turkish were all small players on the trans Atlantic market. The situation is different today and UNITED can’t compete profitably – so they left the market. Note that even Delta pulled out of Dubai recently. The only stations either airline serves in the whole region is Tel Aviv
Technically speaking..for the US, those contracts are still carried out by British Airways & Ethiad (marketed as American Airlines), KLM (Marketed as Delta) and Lufthansa (marketed as United)
True I fly with the yankees
Traveled from KWI to JFK a week ago, so lucky Incaught this before the Ireland security stop over. At checking and baggage drop off, the personal we’re opening every bag and swabbing it with a prob– unpacking and checking every pocket, every corner. I was really impressed! The line was backed up and I’d recommend not showing up late.
However, the carry on baggage and person check was a real joke. The lines were congested and staff looked unorganized and mentally spread thin.
I agree with others that this may be more of a fall back for not accepting an Israli passenger.
The Kuwaiti Airways flight was cheap. It is humorous to watch how the flight personal conduct themselves. You can see that there is a combination of a lack of customer service training and also maybe they are down and out from dealing with the most difficult of GCC nationals.
What is ESD/ETD Screening system at Kuwait airport???