Kuwait Airlines will no longer use Shannon Airport as a stopover for its service to New York.
At the weekend, the airline confirmed it had received approval for a direct route to the Big Apple. This negates the need for the three-time weekly service to stop in Shannon as it has done since 2016. It is estimated that it formed five percent of Shannon’s total passenger numbers.
Flights travelled between Kuwait and JFK via Shannon to allow passenger and baggage screening, no passengers were picked up at the Clare airport. However it did offer additional spin-off business with passengers on the ground in Ireland for up to two-and-a-half hours partway into their 13-hour flight.
Management at Shannon said the arrangement was always viewed as a temporary one. A spokesperson for the airport outlined, “It was established as a temporary transit service while the airline awaited TSA approval of its new Kuwait airport facilities. That has now been completed and the airline will resume its direct service from Kuwait to New/York JFK. Shannon’s reputation for efficient and quick handling of transit aircraft, from the smallest to the largest was the reason why Shannon was selected back in 2016 by Kuwait Airways as a temporary transit stop on their Kuwait to JFK service. We would like to thank Kuwait Airlines for using Shannon Airport over the last two and a half years and we will continue to work with the Airline to explore future opportunities”.
