Kuwait Airways

[ethanegcc]

Ok so can post now, the KU transit flight is coming to MAN after all.

KU117 a1415 d1630 daily B77W from 21st.

Do you know when it will be bookable as currently the stops say 'STN' on google flights?

Also, it still says 'non-stop' from 21st May. Is non-stop going to happen in the near future?

 

[User001]

Website usually takes 24/48 hours to update, it was only confirmed today so will take time. It needs to be remembered that the stop will bear no relevance to the booking and times of the flight, so, they don't exactly need to rush to update it.

 

[Dobbo]

Picking up on the discussion elsewhere, the period for this is currently stated from 21 April to 19 May. It's not clear whether this means the flight will go non stop to JFK from 20 May or whether the schedules are still being updated.

 

[User001]

All being well (for Manchester) the flight should stay until at least September.

The debate has been sparked by the fact the flight is listed as 'non stop' from 21st May, but, the flight routing gets reviewed on a monthly basis as to whether it can go non stop or not, so, it will be loaded a month at a time.

 

[Aceshigh]

I can't see the US allowing KU to fly non stop unless it also revokes it's ban allowing Israeli passport holders to travel on its flights, this "I think" was why the LHR JFK leg which came under a US KUWAIT open skies agreement was terminated was it not ?

The tech stop comes under the separate issue of "screening compliance " but the ban in Isreali passport holders wont help the cause. Not that there are likely to be many Israeli passengers boarding a Kuwait flight.

 

[Philbky]

Whilst the Jewish passenger row precipitated the fifth freedom ban, the security screening is another matter. At Shannon it was, as it will be at MAN, baggage and carry on screening plus visa check by the airline. US immigration pre-clearance was not offered at SNN. Shannon seems to have shot itself in the foot with its fire service downgrading.

 

[David_itl]

I can't see the US allowing KU to fly non stop

Airlines have the right to deny boarding to any passengers whose passports aren't officially recognised by their home country but only on non-stop flights. Hence... the US recognises the Israeli passport, the UK recognises the Israeli passport and Kuwait doesn't recognise the Israeli passport. A passenger with dual citizenship (US/Israeli) chose to fly JFK-LHR on their Israeli passport. KU refused it due it being an Israeli passport and so not acceptable to Kuwaiti security at KWI but the US DOT intervened as the destination country was not Kuwait therefore that passenger would not have been held by security at KWI and deported back to the US.

There'd be a fair number of airlines servicing the States non-stop that wouldn't be allowed rights if the "you must accept Israeli passport" scenario was acted out (hello Saudia in particular!)

 

[Philbky]

It is widely reported in the US that the passenger acknowledged that he could have used other airlines, paid less for his ticket, could have travelled on his US passport but wanted to make a point.

 

[ethanegcc]

Can someone please shed some light on what is happening with Kuwait Airways?

Operating via Shannon until 21st May,

Showing non-stop from 21st May,

Showing as going via MAN on AlphaFive facebook page from 22nd May

Is this correct?

 

[Aceshigh]

Maybe SNN managed to find some extra pennies from the tea trolley and extend the fire cover ?

 

[User001]

The information is correct. KU117 arrives 1415 departs 1625 daily with B77W from 22nd May and will now use T1.

 

[Aceshigh]

The May date is correct , not sure we are disputing that BUT was due Manchester April ?

 

[ethanegcc]

The information is correct. KU117 arrives 1415 departs 1625 daily with B77W from 22nd May and will now use T1.

http://www.routesonline.com/news/38...ech-stop-for-new-york-service-in-aprmay-2017/

'Schedules on/after 22MAY17 tentatively shows nonstop flight from Kuwait City, however further changes will be made in the coming days.'

Hopefully this means we will have something concrete from the airline about a Manchester stop soon. Was kind of hoping it would use Terminal 2, purely for spotting purposes! 😉

 

[ethanegcc]

I am led to believe that the service will be using Shannon for the foreseeable future.

 

[Philbky]

I can confirm from sources at Shannon that a) the reduction in fire cover at Shannon has been put back at least until November, b) as a consequence Kuwait will continue to use Shannon until May 21 and thereafter if clearance for direct flights from Kuwait is not forthcomingfrom the US authorities.

 

[Aceshigh]

If they do start Manchester flights it would it make sense to then switch those flights to Manchester ?

 

[Land23R]

But has the chance of KU - MAN flights receded anyway for this year? It seems to have gone quiet on that front.

Good to welcome Oman Air today though.

 

[ethanegcc]

But has the chance of KU - MAN flights receded anyway for this year? It seems to have gone quiet on that front.

Good to welcome Oman Air today though.

I think the announcement of KU flights was supposed to be July, for an October start, so I'm still holding out hope.

 

[User001]

Still in the frame by all accounts, but this is the first time I've seen it in any mainstream media:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...new-u-s-route-as-ban-threatens-mideast-travel

The additions, which may also include new service to Seoul, Manchester, Sarajevo or airports in China, Morocco and Saudi Arabia, are part of a wide-ranging restructuring as Kuwait Air aims to return to profit and lure more high-end customers, Chairman Sami Al-Rushaid said in an interview.

Now, with KU not able to serve the US directly at the moment, I wonder if KWI-MAN-ORD/IAD-MAN-KWI is being considered?

The US route would likely be on a B77W, which would likely be too big for IAD/ORD in isolation, and too big for MAN which may be an A330 anyway, but, combining the 2 could get the routes off to a good start, especially with USPBC on the horizon.

If they choose IAD then could be a great way to get the route served ex-MAN again. Interesting times.

 

[User001]

Local Kuwaiti media is stating ORD/IAD, ICN and MAN will be on a B77W when they start. Sarajevo will be A320.