Kuwait International Airport has activated its emergency response plan after Terminal One was struck by missiles and drones reportedly launched from Iran, causing injuries and damage to airport facilities, officials confirmed.

Abdullah Al-Rajhi, spokesperson for the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA), said authorities immediately implemented established emergency protocols to protect passengers, staff, and airport infrastructure.

Air traffic has been suspended, and inbound and outbound flights have been diverted to nearby airports until further notice, Al-Rajhi added.

Technical teams are currently assessing the extent of the damage to facilities before repair operations begin. Security and contingency measures remain in place to ensure the safe resumption of airport operations.

The incident underscores ongoing regional tensions and highlights the importance of airport emergency preparedness in safeguarding travelers and aviation infrastructure.

The Sultanate of Oman is expanding its aviation links with African countries through new air service agreements and the launch of direct routes, strengthening connectivity between the Middle East and Africa.

Botswana

Oman recently signed an Air Services Agreement with Botswana to strengthen air connectivity and establish a framework for passenger and air cargo services between the two countries.

The agreement covers operational and technical matters and allows airlines to operate an unlimited number of direct flights. It also enables carriers to expand their networks and establish codeshare arrangements, supporting closer cooperation in air transport.

Angola

Oman and Angola have also signed an agreement covering cooperation in aviation. The arrangement provides for unlimited direct flights, network expansion and codeshare partnerships, alongside regulatory and technical cooperation between the two sides.

Rwanda

SalamAir has launched a new route connecting Muscat with Kigali, strengthening aviation links between Oman and Rwanda while supporting broader economic cooperation between the two countries and the wider Middle East.

Somalia

SalamAir began operating flights to Mogadishu on September 3, establishing a direct connection between the capitals of Oman and Somalia.

The new route is expected to facilitate business travel, family visits and stronger business-to-business links while creating an additional travel corridor between Oman and East Africa.

SalamAir already operates services to Nairobi, Port Sudan and Cairo in Africa, while Oman Air connects Oman with Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.

Together, the agreements and new routes reflect Oman’s efforts to broaden its aviation network across Africa and create additional opportunities for tourism, trade, business and passenger travel.

Source: Oman Daily Observer

Global engineering and professional services firm WSP has secured the design contract for the expansion and development of King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

The project will cover the expansion of passenger terminals, facility upgrades and improvements to airport entrances and access roads. The scope also includes new baggage handling systems, digital services and terminal wayfinding solutions designed to simplify passenger journeys and improve comfort, Dammam Airports said.

Under the master plan, the airport is expected to handle more than 19.3 million passengers annually by 2030. Capacity will then be expanded in phases to reach 32 million passengers per year in response to future demand.

The development also targets annual air cargo capacity of more than 600,000 tonnes and an aircraft operating capacity of 77 movements per hour. These improvements will be supported by extensive upgrades to airport infrastructure, runways and general aviation facilities.

The agreement was signed by Dammam Airports CEO Eng. Mohammed Al Hassany and Dean McGrail, President of WSP for the Middle East and Asia.

Al Hassany described the contract as an important milestone in the airport’s development and said Dammam Airports remains focused on modernising its facilities and expanding capacity.

He added that the project will use modern design solutions and smart technologies to improve the passenger experience while accommodating expected growth in both passenger and cargo traffic.

The expansion is also intended to strengthen King Fahd International Airport’s role as a major international gateway connecting Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Region with destinations around the world.

Source: TradeArabia

Egypt has advanced the tender process for the management, operation and development of Hurghada International Airport under a public-private partnership (PPP), the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.

Ten consortia submitted applications to participate in the tender, with seven qualifying for the next stage following an assessment of their applications and supporting documents by a specialised evaluation committee. The review was conducted according to the criteria outlined in the request for qualifications (RFQ).

The update was announced during a meeting between Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation Sameh El-Hefny and Ary Naïm, the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Division Director for North Africa and the Horn of Africa. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the El Alamein International Air Show (EIAS 2026).

El-Hefny said the project supports the government’s efforts to strengthen Egypt’s civil aviation sector, improve passenger services and enhance the overall travel experience.

He highlighted the importance of the PPP programme in improving operational efficiency and modernising airport infrastructure and services in accordance with international standards and best practices.

The minister said the partnership model is intended to maximise value for the state while drawing on specialised technical and management expertise. State ownership and full sovereignty over the airport’s assets will remain unchanged, he added.

El-Hefny also welcomed the IFC’s technical and advisory assistance, noting the organisation’s international experience in structuring and implementing PPP projects.

Naïm reaffirmed the IFC’s commitment to working with Egypt’s Ministry of Civil Aviation to help complete the tender process in line with international standards.

The seven qualified consortia are now being informed about the next phase, which will involve issuing request for proposals (RFP) documents and setting the timetable and procedures for bid submissions, subject to approval in the forthcoming stage.

In July, the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) cited an IFC regional director as saying that Egypt was expected to announce the first results of its airport public offering programme before the end of the year.

Source: Arab Finance

A shortage of air traffic controllers caused flight cancellations and significant delays at Sydney Airport on Friday morning, according to Airservices Australia, the federal agency responsible for managing the country’s air traffic.

Airservices Australia introduced temporary measures to control traffic flows and safely manage demand after an unexpected staffing shortfall. The restrictions resulted in around 14 inbound flight cancellations, while some flights were delayed by more than an hour.

The disruption adds to a series of operational challenges facing Australia’s busiest airport as Airservices Australia continues to deal with staffing shortages. It also comes as authorities investigate several recent near-miss incidents involving aircraft at the airport.

Peter Curran, Deputy Chief Executive of Airservices Australia, told a Senate committee examining the aviation sector that unexpected absenteeism had affected staffing levels.

“Last night, at relatively short notice, we had some unplanned absenteeism, which we weren't able to recover from,” Curran said. He added that having one fewer controller in the tower that morning had contributed to significant delays.

The traffic management measures were withdrawn at 8:15 a.m. local time, or 2215 GMT on Thursday, after operating conditions improved. Minor delays persisted through the remainder of the morning, but flight schedules had largely returned to normal by the afternoon.

An Airservices Australia spokesperson said the agency was coordinating with airlines to minimise delays and reduce the impact on passengers.

Sydney has 49 air traffic controllers, but 41 are required for normal operations. Curran said eight controllers were unavailable because of long-term absences, leaving limited capacity to handle unexpected staffing shortages.

“We've had some staffing challenges in the last number of weeks since July ... and we have some moments where that can become somewhat acute. Today's an example of that,” he said.

Airservices Australia said it was working to recruit additional air traffic controllers and improve arrangements for bringing in extra staff when operational pressures increase.

Source: Reuters

Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Programme (ACP) has signed a cooperation agreement with Delta Air Lines aimed at expanding direct air links between the Kingdom and the United States.

The agreement, signed during WTM Spotlight Riyadh, supports plans for Delta to introduce direct flights between Riyadh and Atlanta. The new connection is expected to give US travellers greater access to Saudi Arabia while providing additional travel options between the two countries.

The planned service is expected to provide more than 85,000 round-trip seats each year and will be operated with Airbus A350 aircraft.

ACP CEO Ahmed Albrahim said the partnership represents an important step in strengthening direct connectivity between Saudi Arabia and the US.

According to Albrahim, the Riyadh-Atlanta route will also connect travellers to Delta’s broader North American network, improving access to Saudi Arabia from key international markets.

He said partnerships with major global airlines support ACP’s strategy of developing routes with significant strategic and economic value. Such connections, he added, can provide passengers with access to wider international networks rather than serving only as direct links between two cities.

Albrahim said ACP will continue working with aviation and tourism partners to attract more international airlines and increase seat capacity from priority markets.

The agreement is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to expand international air connectivity, establish direct links with key markets and advance the Kingdom’s tourism and aviation objectives under Vision 2030.

Source: ZAWYA