Airline Kuwait Airways

As its name suggests, Kuwait Airways is the national airline of Kuwait. Based at Kuwait International Airport, it was founded in 1954.

Unlike the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait is not a major tourist destination. Its economy is primarily focused on oil production. However, Kuwait Airport also serves as a hub, acting as a transit airport to other destinations.

With a fleet of 32 aircraft, Kuwait Airways serves 54 destinations across 31 countries worldwide. These include destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. Eight of these countries are within the European Community.

In France, Kuwait Airways operates from two airports: Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and seasonally from Nice-Côte d’Azur.

You might find yourself flying with Kuwait Airways, especially on long-haul flights to Africa or Asia.

Kuwait Airways and European regulations

Kuwait Airways is not a European airline. By default, one might think it is not subject to European law.

However, on an aircraft, multiple laws apply: the law of the departure country, the destination country, and the airline's country of origin.

All airlines adhere to international conventions, namely the Warsaw and Montreal Conventions. These conventions generally ensure the same rights for travellers.

However, how these rights are applied is up to the discretion of the signatory states.

In Europe, European law has harmonised the application of these rights.

This is reflected in Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, which applies to:

all flights departing from the European Community (including Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland);
flights arriving in the same European Community, operated by an airline based there.

Kuwait Airways is a third-country airline. Therefore, it is not subject to the second point. However, for any flight departing from the European Union, it remains subject to these regulations.

Your rights on flights subject to Regulation (EC) No 261/2004

If you depart from the European Community with Kuwait Airways, you are entitled to certain rights.

These rights incorporate principles already present in international conventions. However, European regulations specify how they should be applied.

Care until your arrival

At boarding, you must have a boarding pass and valid documents, and you must present yourself on time.

If you meet these conditions, Kuwait Airways must get you to your destination. You are taken care of until this is achieved. In case of cancellation or denied boarding due to overbooking, they must offer you an alternative solution.

Before boarding, in the event of a significant delay, you may incur additional expenses. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 stipulates that the airline must provide food and drink, within reason. If not, they may reimburse you for purchases made at the airport.

If you need to stay overnight, Kuwait Airways must also cover your accommodation expenses.

Possible refund in case of cancellation or overbooking

If your flight is cancelled or you are denied boarding due to overbooking, you have two options:

a replacement flight under similar conditions (same flight duration, no downgrading);
a cancellation with a full refund of your ticket.

The refund of your ticket is possible, but not mandatory. If you wish for re-routing, you are fully entitled to it.

A refund is also possible if your flight is delayed by more than 5 hours.

Moreover, if you accept the refund, you forfeit your journey.

Compensation, under conditions, in case of delay, cancellation, or overbooking

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 also provides for a fixed compensation if your flight is delayed, cancelled or overbooked.

This compensation is subject to conditions: it is not granted automatically. It depends on the reason for the disruption.

Unlike a refund, compensation does not require you to forfeit your flight. On the contrary, it is necessary to know how long you were delayed to assess your eligibility.

Compensation, how does it work?

Compensation follows a fixed scale defined at the European level. It is not automatically due: it depends on the type of disruption encountered, the extent of the delay, and the airline's level of responsibility.

In case of delay

A delay is perhaps the most common type of disruption, especially on long-haul flights. When everything goes smoothly, delays do not exceed 30 to 60 minutes. But sometimes, they can be much longer.

As long as the delay remains reasonable, no compensation is due. But beyond a certain threshold, you can make a claim. The amounts provided are as follows:

€250 for a flight of less than 1500 km with at least 3 hours delay;
€400 for a non-EU flight between 1500 and 3500 km or an EU flight over 1500 km with at least 3 hours delay;
€600 for a non-EU flight over 3500 km with at least 4 hours delay.

In case of cancellation or overbooking

If your flight is cancelled, the same compensation scale applies. But unlike a simple delay, there is no minimum duration. However, below a certain delay time, the compensation is reduced.

It is reduced to:

€125 for a flight of less than 1500 km with less than 2 hours delay;
€200 for a non-EU flight between 1500 and 3500 km or an EU flight over 1500 km with less than 3 hours delay;
€300 for a non-EU flight over 3500 km with less than 4 hours delay.

If Kuwait Airways denies you boarding due to overbooking, you are entitled to the same compensation scheme.

Cases where you are not entitled to compensation

Compensation is intended to compensate you for a loss. This implies that there is a real loss. And since it is the airline that compensates you, it implies they are responsible.

In some flight disruptions, they will not be. Thus, Kuwait Airways will not be required to compensate you:

if they informed you at least 15 days before your departure;
if they re-route you under the same conditions and at the same times;
in case of extraordinary circumstances (strike, geopolitical issues, bad weather, etc.).

A strike is a particular case. It is a valid reason only if it involves personnel external to the airline. Otherwise, Kuwait Airways must compensateyou.

Have you experienced a flight disruption with Kuwait Airways? Delayed can help you claim compensation

Did you depart from the European Union with Kuwait Airways? You are covered by Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.

If your flight was delayed, cancelled, or overbooked, you may be entitled to compensation.

Are you hesitant to start the process? Worried about the time or costs involved? Why not let us handle it for you?

Delayed, specialists in air passenger compensation, will take care of all your claims.