KAC to the rescue after Crown Prince orders bringing back stranded passengers

KUWAIT: Lawmakers yesterday questioned the cancellation of several flights by private Kuwaiti carrier Wataniya Airways and demanded compensation, after the civil aviation directorate issued an ultimatum to the airline. Kuwait Airways rushed to help yesterday by deciding to bring back stranded passengers in Istanbul and some other places after Deputy Amir and Crown Prince HH Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah ordered that passengers should be brought back home.

Wataniya Airways expressed deep regrets for what happened and said that the cancellations were forced because the company could not find planes to lease due to the heavier than expected summer rush. The company said it will take all the necessary measures to rectify the situation. The civil aviation authority issued a statement on Saturday giving the airline until Sept 5 to deal with the situation and set its record straight, otherwise it will suspend its operating license.

Wataniya Airways resumed operations a few months ago after several years of stoppage due to losses and debt. Kuwait Airways said it will send a plane to bring back the stranded passengers in Istanbul and vowed to do the same with other destinations.

In a related development, MP Mohammad Al-Mutair yesterday charged that the government was delaying the issuance of visas and providing residence permits to employees of a private company operating the T4 terminal, which has been allocated to Kuwait Airways. He said on Twitter that the company cannot fully operate the terminal because it does not have enough employees, adding that the government failed to issue visas under pressure from a competing local airline in order to benefit from the summer rush. Mutair also charged that Kuwait Airways flights and luggage are being deliberately delayed to make people dislike the national carrier. He warned that he plans to grill the prime minister over the matter.

By B Izzak