Kuwait’s aviation authorities have intensified their crackdown on travel sector violations amid a surge in complaints related to ticket fraud, unlicensed brokers and breaches of licensing rules. The Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) has introduced stricter penalties to safeguard travelers and restore confidence in the country’s air transport market.

The PACA’s complaint and arbitration committee recently issued a series of disciplinary actions against non-compliant travel offices and unauthorized brokers, who officials say are responsible for many financial losses and flight disruptions.

On October 22, 2025, the committee recorded 66 violations involving travel agents that breached social media license rules and other regulatory guidelines. Two individuals were also referred for legal action over unlicensed business activities.

Further penalties followed on November 13, when eight travel agents and one aviation company were fined for additional violations.

Abdullah Al-Rajhi, Director of PACA’s Air Transport Department and head of the committee, said the authority maintains an updated database of 890 entities—comprising 728 travel offices, 89 shipping offices and 73 airlines—all subject to regulatory monitoring.

Speaking to KUNA, Al-Rajhi emphasized that PACA plays a comprehensive oversight role to ensure licensed offices comply with regulations and to address violations swiftly. He stressed that the agency's priority is to protect travelers’ rights and prevent malpractice across the air transport sector.

Between January 1 and September 2025, the authority’s grievance department received 3,012 complaints, reflecting both rising traveler awareness and the prevalence of cyber-related scams. Al-Rajhi noted increasing cases involving fake websites, fraudulent payment links and misleading online advertisements, and said PACA is working closely with the Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) to tackle these offences.

Common violations include fake air ticket sales, unauthorized brokers, unlawful add-on fees and deceptive promotions.
Al-Rajhi urged travelers to book only through licensed offices, verify booking details carefully and avoid transactions through individuals or suspicious payment links.

Looking ahead, PACA plans to enhance monitoring systems, strengthen cooperation with security and commercial authorities and expand public awareness campaigns to combat fraud and protect consumers.

Mohammad Al-Mutairi, Chairman of the Kuwait Travel and Tourism Agencies Association, criticized unlicensed brokers for damaging the reputation of Kuwait’s travel sector and eroding public trust. He stressed that licensed agencies operate responsibly under official regulations and remain committed to customer protection.

Al-Mutairi noted that key complaints include fake tickets, cancellations without notice and misleading travel offers promoted through fake social media accounts. However, he said recent data shows a substantial decline in fraud-related complaints compared with last year, crediting stronger enforcement and joint efforts between the association and government bodies.

Riyadh Air and Saudia have announced the implementation of the first phase of their Strategic Cooperation Agreement, marking a major step in strengthening connectivity under Saudi Arabia’s National Aviation Strategy.

The partnership builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2023 and enables the two airlines to expand travel options for domestic and international passengers.

As part of the first phase, Riyadh Air has established a connection with Saudia’s Passenger Service System (PSS), allowing the carriers to implement their codeshare across their respective technology platforms.

Under the RX-SV codeshare, Riyadh Air will place its “RX” designator on selected Saudia-operated flights from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport to six domestic destinations: Abha, Al Qassim, Dammam, Jeddah, Medina and Tabuk.

The agreement will give Riyadh Air passengers access to additional destinations worldwide through convenient connections in Riyadh. For example, travelers from Dammam can connect via Riyadh to Madrid on a single ticket, while passengers flying from Kuala Lumpur can connect through Riyadh to Medina.

By using Saudia’s frequent services between Riyadh and the six codeshare destinations, Riyadh Air will offer passengers more convenient connections aligned with the arrival and departure schedules of its flights at Riyadh.

Both airlines operate within the King Khalid International Airport Terminal 1-4 complex, enabling passengers to benefit from streamlined connections, single-ticket journeys and through-checked baggage to their final destinations.

The first phase represents a significant step toward deeper cooperation between Saudi Arabia’s two national carriers and supports the Kingdom’s broader ambitions to expand its global aviation network.

Source: aaco.org

SalamAir has announced the establishment of Salalah’s first-ever airline base, marking a major step in the airline’s expansion and strengthening direct international connectivity from Oman’s Dhofar Governorate.

The new Salalah-based operation will initially serve three international destinations: Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Chattogram in Bangladesh and Calicut in India. Bookings opened on August 26, with flights scheduled to begin from the end of October as part of SalamAir’s Winter 2026 schedule.

The base follows SalamAir’s expanded operations during the 2026 Khareef season, when the airline increased capacity on the Muscat-Salalah route to as many as 15 daily flights during peak periods.

The airline also introduced special domestic fares for Omani nationals, with one-way tickets starting from OMR 9.99, supporting affordable travel between Muscat and Salalah.

The new base is expected to extend SalamAir’s role beyond the Khareef season by supporting year-round travel demand among residents and expatriate communities in Dhofar while offering more direct access to key regional and international destinations.

Operations from Salalah will be supported by SalamAir’s Airbus A320neo and A321neo fleet. The airline currently operates 18 aircraft, providing additional flexibility to support growing demand across its network.

During the winter season, SalamAir will also operate charter flights linking Salalah with Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan, supporting inbound tourism from Central Asia.

The Salalah base forms part of SalamAir’s wider strategy to expand its network from key airports across Oman, develop underserved markets and stimulate new travel demand while supporting the growth of the Sultanate’s aviation and tourism sectors.

Source: ZAWYA