Kuwait Airways and Emirates Expand Partnership Ahead of Codeshare Agreement

Al-Shatti: Broader travel options and enhanced air connectivity between the two carriers’ networks

Kazim: Partnership opens new routes, supports shared growth and travel movement

Kuwait Airways and Emirates Airline have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand the existing interline partnership between the two carriers, paving the way for its conversion into a mutual code-share agreement. This move aims to enhance travel options and air connectivity for customers of both airlines.

In a statement, Kuwait Airways said the signing took place on the sidelines of its participation, in collaboration with Visit Kuwait, at a pavilion during the Arabian Travel Market exhibition in Dubai. The event serves as a platform for airlines and professionals in the travel and tourism sectors to meet and discuss future cooperation and partnership opportunities.

Acting CEO of Kuwait Airways, Captain Abdulwahab Ibrahim Al-Shatti, stated that 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 explained that under the new arrangements, Kuwait Airways customers will gain access to a wider range of destinations within Emirates’ network via its hub in Dubai. Passengers will be able to book multi-segment flights on a single ticket and check baggage through to their final destination, ensuring a smoother and more seamless travel experience.

He added that the arrangements will also allow Emirates customers to benefit from Kuwait Airways’ network of destinations and services, contributing to expanded travel options and strengthened air connectivity between Kuwait and various destinations served by both carriers.

Al-Shatti praised the strategic relationship between Kuwait Airways and Emirates, reaffirming the national carrier’s dedication to enhancing and developing this cooperation to serve the interests of both parties and reflect the deep fraternal ties between Kuwait and the UAE. He noted that expanding the partnership represents a significant step toward offering broader travel options and enhancing air connectivity between the two carriers’ networks.

He emphasized that participation in such exhibitions provides opportunities to hold meetings and exchange expertise with entities and companies operating in the aviation, travel, and tourism sectors, as well as to explore cooperation opportunities and conclude agreements. Al-Shatti clarified that the agreement extends other partnerships and agreements that Kuwait Airways intends to sign in the coming period, aiming to expand its strategic partnership network and enhance travel options and connectivity for its customers, thereby supporting its future plans.

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

Kazim added that transitioning to a mutual code-share agreement will allow for greater utilization of the integration between the two carriers’ networks, opening new routes for travelers and delivering a more interconnected and seamless travel experience via Dubai and Kuwait. He expressed his anticipation for building on the partnership and expanding areas of cooperation to support shared growth, enhance travel movement and air connectivity, and connect customers of both carriers to a broader range of international markets and destinations.

Earlier last year, Kuwait Airways had strengthened its strategic partnership with Emirates by expanding commercial cooperation, thereby providing travelers with more diverse and flexible travel options across a wide network of regional and global destinations.

This step has enabled Kuwait Airways customers to access 19 international destinations through the Emirates Airline network, including markets such as Australia, China, Japan, the United States, and South Africa. Meanwhile, Emirates customers can now benefit from eight destinations within the Kuwait Airways network, contributing to expanded travel options and enhanced air connectivity between the two countries and international markets.