Kuwait Airways
Kuwait · KUWAITI · Active
Airline Identity
History
Kuwait Airways traces its roots to 1953, when Kuwait National Airways was founded by local businessmen; it began scheduled flights in March 1954 with two Dakota aircraft and adopted the Kuwait Airways name in July 1955. The Kuwaiti government took full ownership by 1963, and the carrier expanded through the 1960s, including launching service to London in 1964 and posting its first profit in 1968. Its Iraq operations were suspended after Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait and only resumed in November 2013; the airline rebranded with a new livery and logo in 2016.
Current Operations
Kuwait Airways remains wholly owned by the government of Kuwait, and long-discussed privatization plans have yet to be completed as of 2026. It operates a fleet built around Boeing 777-300ERs alongside Airbus A320, A330 and A350 family aircraft from its hub at Kuwait International Airport, serving destinations across the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Europe, Southeast Asia and North America. The airline is not part of a major global alliance but holds codeshare and interline agreements with a range of international carriers, including Aegean Airlines and ITA Airways.
Last verified 2026-09-02· Source: airline public disclosures, company press releases & aviation-industry reporting.