Kuwait Airways and Emirates sign MoU to expand partnership

Dubai, September 15 (KUNA) -- Kuwait Airways and Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding today, Tuesday, aimed at expanding the existing interline partnership between the two carriers, paving the way for a codeshare agreement that will enhance travel options and connectivity for customers of both airlines.

In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Kuwait Airways said the signing took place on the sidelines of its participation in the State of Kuwait pavilion at the Arabian Travel Market 2026 in Dubai, under the “Visit Kuwait” tourism identity. The event serves as a platform to showcase Kuwait’s tourism assets and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with entities operating in the travel, tourism, and aviation sectors.

According to the statement, Acting CEO of Kuwait Airways, Captain Abdulwahab Al-Shatti, said the agreement aligns with the airline’s commitment to expanding its strategic partnerships with global carriers, thereby providing customers with broader and more flexible travel options.

Al-Shatti added that under the new arrangements, Kuwait Airways customers will gain access to a wider range of destinations within Emirates’ network via its Dubai hub, with the ability to book multi-segment journeys on a single ticket and check baggage through to the final destination, ensuring a smoother and more seamless travel experience.

He clarified that these arrangements will also enable Emirates customers to benefit from Kuwait Airways’ network of destinations and services, helping to expand travel options and enhance connectivity between Kuwait and various destinations served by both carriers.

Emphasizing that the expanded partnership represents a significant step toward offering broader travel choices and strengthening connectivity between the two airlines’ networks, Al-Shatti praised the strategic relationship between Kuwait Airways and Emirates, noting both parties’ dedication to developing cooperation that serves their mutual interests and reflects the deep fraternal ties between Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

He noted that participation in such exhibitions provides opportunities to hold meetings and explore areas of cooperation and partnership with entities in the aviation, travel, and tourism sectors, adding that the agreement is part of Kuwait Airways’ plans to expand its strategic partnerships and enhance travel and connectivity options for its customers.

For his part, Adnan Kazim, Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates, said in the statement that this step reflects the evolution of the partnership with Kuwait Airways and serves as a model of cooperation that delivers real value to customers by opening up a wider range of travel and connectivity options across the region and beyond.

Kazim added that transitioning to a mutual codeshare agreement will allow both carriers to better leverage the complementarity of their networks, open new routes for travelers, and deliver a more integrated and seamless travel experience through Dubai and Kuwait. He expressed optimism about building on this partnership and expanding areas of cooperation to support mutual growth and enhance travel and air connectivity.

The statement noted that Kuwait Airways had previously strengthened its strategic partnership with Emirates by expanding commercial cooperation, enabling its customers to access 19 international destinations through Emirates’ network, including markets in Australia, China, Japan, the United States, and South Africa. Meanwhile, Emirates customers have been able to benefit from eight destinations within Kuwait Airways’ network. (End) S.K.M./A.M.H.