KUWAIT AIRPORT PLANS TO MAINTAIN CIVILIAN FLIGHTS

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000806 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT AIRPORT PLANS TO MAINTAIN CIVILIAN FLIGHTS ¶1. SUMMARY. Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCI) announced that Kuwait International Airport does not intend to close operations in face of a potential war in Iraq unless military action jeopardizes the safety of civilian flights. Commercial airlines, however, may decide individually to stop flights into the country. So far, most airlines continue to fly regular schedules, although some carriers have limited the number of routes into and out of Kuwait at least through the end of March. END SUMMARY. ¶2. On March 5, Fawaz Al-Farah, Deputy Director General for Aviation Safety and Air Transport at DGCI, told EconOff that all efforts will be made to keep Kuwait International Airport open. Al-Farah confirmed and expanded on a report that appeared earlier that day in Al-Qabas Arabic-language newspaper, which claimed that an agreement had been struck between Kuwait's Ministry of Defense and DGCI to coordinate flight paths for civilian and military aircraft during any armed conflict. ¶3. Al-Farah said that as part of the GOK's Emergency Contingency Plan -- drafted last month by the Ministry of Defense in consultation with the US Military -- the airport would only close should it be determined that military action placed civilian flights at risk. At that time a decision would be made by DGCI to either partially or fully close civilian flight operations until it was deemed safe to reopen them. ¶4. Al-Farah said that the airport has stepped up security measures in the last few weeks. Airport security officers have been given instructions and training on how to respond to a variety of emergencies. Gas masks have been issued to key staff members, and all employees have been forbidden from taking vacations at this time to ensure adequate personnel is available in case of emergency. ¶5. Most airlines continue to operate at full or slightly reduced schedules, Al-Farah said. KLM and Lufthansa told Post separately that they are operating at full capacity, while Kuwait Airways has reduced some of its flights to North America, Europe, and the Middle East. British Airways has gone from one flight a day to four flights a week at least through the end of March. Al-Farah said BA's decision was partly due to lower air traffic from London to Kuwait, as many British citizens have already left the country, while those staying have greatly limited their air travel. (Note: Air China has decided to stop all flights into Kuwait at least through the end of March, but this action should not have much effect on American travelers. End Note.) ¶6. COMMENT: Post plans to pass the above information to American citizens in Kuwait through its warden system in an effort to dispel rumors that Kuwait Airport intends to close. JONES