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