Kuwaiti-Egyptian Air Relations: Towards a More Open and Competitive Strategic Partnership

With Increased Options, Routes, and Simplified Procedures While Maintaining Regulatory and Sovereign Controls

Kuwaiti-Egyptian Air Relations: Towards a More Open and Competitive Strategic Partnership

After following traditional and conservative policies, the State of Kuwait and the Arab Republic of Egypt have, in recent years, worked to strengthen their relationship in the field of civil air transport. This has been achieved through the signing of memoranda of understanding that marked a turning point towards a more open phase of cooperation. In addition, continuous bilateral talks and official statements from both sides on various occasions confirm the pursuit of a long-term strategic civil aviation partnership by both parties, which may eventually lead to an open skies agreement in the future. So, what are the key milestones of Kuwaiti-Egyptian air cooperation, and how have they contributed to strengthening air connectivity?

The roots of civil aviation cooperation between Kuwait and Egypt date back to the mid-20th century, when Kuwait Airways operated the first commercial flight between the two countries in 1956. Egypt began operating scheduled flights to Kuwait after signing bilateral air transport agreements with Gulf countries in the early 1970

Air agreements between Egypt and the Gulf countries were conservative, aiming to protect national carriers and establish fixed rules for air exchange. These agreements included restrictions on the number of designated airlines, regulated flight schedules, and limits on seat capacity. This approach was a common practice in international aviation to safeguard national interests, though there has been recent movement towards expansion and liberalisation.

In June 1988, the two countries signed the Regular Air Services Agreement and its annex. This agreement governs air services between the two countries, establishing the legal framework for operating scheduled flights. It includes definitions of services, rights granted to both parties, classification of agreed routes, mechanisms for designating carriers, granting operational permits, regulatory oversight requirements, as well as provisions on capacity, scheduling, aviation safety, security, user fees, customs exemptions, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

According to old agreements and subsequent updates, authorised carriers from each side (Egypt or Kuwait) have the right to operate regular flights between specific points (traditionally: Cairo-Kuwait). This usually grants the right to take off and land for the purpose of transporting passengers and cargo on agreed routes, while maintaining restrictions on domestic transport within the other country (cabotage), unless explicitly granted.

Initially, Kuwait Airways and EgyptAir were the only official carriers operating flights between Kuwait and Egypt, under traditional bilateral air transport agreements that limited scheduled flights to the official carriers of both countries.

To pave the way for market openness to other companies, in addition to the traditional national carriers, Jazeera Airways began operating flights to Alexandria and Luxor in 2006. (Jazeera Airways news)

Air Cairo, for its part, launched its first flights to Kuwait in June 2012 from Borg El Arab Airport in Alexandria. (Air Cairo news)

Similarly, Air Arabia Egypt launched its first flights between Kuwait and Egypt in November 2012. All these companies continued to operate, expanding their routes by adding new direct flights between Kuwait and several airports within Egypt. (Air Arabia Egypt news)

A Turning Point

In a turning point aimed at enhancing cooperation and increasing air connectivity—moving from a semi-protective model to a more open and competitive one that allows for broader options for travellers—Kuwait and Egypt signed a technical cooperation memorandum in January 2019. This allowed air carriers in both countries to increase operational capacities and granted them the right to operate using code-sharing. A new route schedule was also agreed upon, replacing the previously agreed schedule.

In an additional strategic step that opens the door to a developmental and expansionary phase in air connectivity, especially with increasing tourism and commercial demand, Egypt and Kuwait signed a memorandum of understanding in September 2024. This allows for an additional increase in passenger capacity and more flights, but within a bilateral control framework.

This took place during a meeting in Cairo between a Kuwaiti delegation led by the Chairman of the Kuwaiti Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Sheikh Mohammed Mubarak Al-Hamoud Al-Sabah, and Egyptian officials led by the President of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Amr El-Sharqawy.

The memorandum came into effect in October 2025 between Kuwait International Airport and Cairo and Sphinx airports, with operational capacity to other Egyptian airports remaining open by agreement between the Kuwaiti and Egyptian sides.

Political Will

In press statements to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) after the signing ceremony, Sheikh Humoud Mubarak Humoud Al-Sabah, Chairman of the Kuwaiti Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), said that the memorandum aims to increase the number of available seats. It also includes “updating technical arrangements” for the operation of airlines from both sides, i.e., reviewing operational conditions between Kuwaiti and Egyptian carriers.

He confirmed that the memorandum will positively impact passenger capacity between the two countries, noting that it will serve the air transport market between Kuwait and Egypt, which is witnessing an increase in the number of flights and passengers, and will benefit the airlines operating these routes.

During his visit to Cairo, the Kuwaiti delegation met with the Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Sameh El-Hefny, who welcomed the signing of the memorandum and emphasised the keenness to develop relations with Kuwait, especially in the air transport market, to serve travellers from both countries.

ElHefny expressed his confidence that the memorandum will help meet the growing demand in the air transport market and will increase operational capacity for carriers from both countries, considering this step a reflection of the political will of the leaderships in Kuwait and Egypt.

Knowledge Transfer

In July 2025, Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation Sameh ElHefny visited Kuwait and met again with Sheikh Humoud Mubarak Humoud Al-Sabah. Both sides discussed expanding cooperation in the air transport industry, including technical and regulatory aspects, and expressed their aspiration to enhance cooperation in areas related to civil aviation, particularly in training, knowledge transfer, and airport investment.

El-Hefny emphasised that the depth of Egyptian-Kuwaiti relations serves as a model for constructive Arab cooperation, noting that the Egyptian civil aviation sector is currently undergoing comprehensive development in its infrastructure and operational services, offering promising opportunities for building partnerships with sister countries, particularly Kuwait. He pointed out that these partnerships contribute to supporting the regional air transport system and enhancing its competitiveness.

For his part, Sheikh Humoud Mubarak Humoud Al-Sabah expressed his appreciation for the visit, which reflects the depth of strategic relations between the two countries, affirming Kuwait’s full support for Egypt in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) elections.

Investment Cooperation

On the investment cooperation front, which strengthens long-term air connectivity as it encompasses not only flights but also infrastructure, the Kuwaiti company BoodaiCorp, operating in several sectors including transport, aviation, construction, and engineering, has announced its interest in investing in Egypt’s aviation and infrastructure sectors, including airports.

This took place during a meeting in February in Cairo between a company delegation and the Egyptian Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Eng. Hassan ElKhatib, who stated at the time that the company operates in seven Egyptian airports and will increase this number to nine by adding Alamein and Hurghada airports.

The signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding, exchange of official visits, and statements by officials confirming the enhancement of technical, regulatory, and investment cooperation are all steps that support organised air liberalisation. This increases the options and routes available to passengers, facilitates procedures while maintaining regulatory and sovereign controls (including safety, security, and licensing conditions), and stimulates tourism and operational growth amid a growing travel market between the two countries. Based on estimated figures from airline schedules and booking engines, the total number of direct weekly civil flights between Kuwait and various Egyptian airports is estimated at between 60 and 75 direct flights per week (with seasonal variation). This number does not include long-haul transit flights, cargo flights, or private flights.