A housemaid waits at an office for domestic workers at a commercial complex in Kuwait City in this file photo. Photo used for illustrative purposes only. - Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

KUWAIT: President of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah met Kuwait Airways Chairman Ali Mohammad Al-Dakhan and Jazeera Airways Chairman Marwan Boodai to prepare a detailed schedule to restart flights from some countries from where passengers are banned from directly flying into Kuwait. They also discussed the institutional health quarantine requirement in Kuwait as instructed by Health Minister Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah, Al-Anbaa Arabic daily reported yesterday, quoting informed sources.

The plan to resume air links with some banned countries will be for the return of domestic helpers to meet Kuwaiti families' needs, according to the unnamed sources. They added Kuwait Airways and Jazeera will present a detailed plan for the return of all domestic helpers from some banned countries and the cost of local PCR tests and the 14-day institutional quarantine.

They added that expenses related to the return of domestic helpers will be borne by the employers, as the government is ready to allow the return of domestic helpers provided that sponsors bear the cost. The sources said employers should register and pay on a platform that will be set up. The advance payment includes the cost of airline tickets, PCR tests and the 14-day institutional quarantine.

The sources said the two carriers previously told the government they are ready to bring back all domestic helpers provided that the institutional quarantine should be in Kuwait. The airlines will propose a quarantine plan.