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Kuwait Airways flight delay and cancellation compensation

Up to €600 compensation per passenger. Was your Kuwait Airways flight delayed or cancelled, or were you denied boarding? Kuwait Airways is not an EU or UK airline, so EU261 and UK261 apply only to its flights departing the EU or the UK. Here is what to expect and what to do.

By the EU261 Flight Delay editorial team Last reviewed: Reading time: 8 min How we write our guides

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In short: On Kuwait Airways flights departing the EU you are entitled to €250–600 compensation for an arrival delay of more than 3 hours, a cancellation notified less than 14 days before departure, or involuntary denied boarding – unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances. A Kuwaiti airline: UK261 covers its flights departing UK airports (London Heathrow or Manchester to Kuwait) and EU261 its flights departing EU airports. Flights from Kuwait to the UK or EU are not covered by either.

IATA code
KU
Headquarters
Kuwait International Airport (Al Farwaniyah)
Hub
Kuwait (KWI)
Type
Full-service
EU261 scope
flights departing the EU

Kuwait Airways flight delay: when is compensation due?

If your Kuwait Airways flight reached its final destination at least 3 hours late (counting from when the doors opened), and the cause was within the airline's control – a technical fault, staff shortage, a delay on the previous flight, a strike by its own staff – you are entitled to compensation. It is not due if the airline proves extraordinary circumstances (weather, an air traffic control strike, an airport closure). Read the full conditions here.

Typical Kuwait Airways routes: London Heathrow–Kuwait, Manchester–Kuwait, Paris CDG–Kuwait, Frankfurt–Kuwait, Geneva–Kuwait.

Kuwait Airways flight cancellation: what are you entitled to?

If your flight is cancelled, Kuwait Airways must offer you a refund of the ticket price (within 7 days) or re-routing on the earliest available flight – including another airline's, if that is quicker. If you were told about the cancellation less than 14 days before departure and the re-routing offered differed significantly from the original flight, you are also entitled to compensation. More on the 14-day rule.

How much compensation for a Kuwait Airways flight?

Flight distanceDelay on arrivalCompensation per passenger
Up to 1,500 km
e.g. London–Paris, Berlin–Rome, Dublin–Amsterdamover 3 hours€250UK261: £220
1,500–3,500 km, and every flight within the EU over 1,500 km
e.g. London–Athens, Frankfurt–Tenerife, Rome–Tel Avivover 3 hours€400UK261: £350
Over 3,500 km, to or from outside the EU
e.g. London–New York, Frankfurt–Dubai, Paris–Bangkokbetween 3 and 4 hours€300UK261: £260 (reduced by 50%)
Over 3,500 km, to or from outside the EUover 4 hours€600UK261: £520

Check your Kuwait Airways flight

Two minutes, free, no sign-up.

What happened?Step 1 of 4

What happened to your flight?
Where did you fly from and to?

With a connection, enter your first departure and your final destination – compensation is based on the total distance.

How late did you arrive at your final destination?

What counts is when the aircraft doors opened at your destination – not the departure delay.

When were you told about the cancellation?
When did you arrive on the replacement flight?
Which airline operated the flight?
When was the flight?

How many passengers were on the booking?

1 passenger

Every passenger gets their own compensation, children too. Infants under 2 without their own seat do not count.

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  • Fee only if successful (35%)
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Rather skip the questions? Start a claim with AirHelp straight away

How punctual was Kuwait Airways in the UK in 2025?

Kuwait Airways operated 1,802 flights at UK airports in 2025. 0.89% were 3 hours or more late and 0.33% were cancelled – see how that compares with the UK average below and in our UK delay statistics.

Flights operated
1,802

2025, at UK airports

On time (≤ 15 min late)
79.9%

close to the UK average (72.7%)

3 hours or more late
0.89%

1 in 112 flights · worse than the UK average

Cancelled
0.33%

6 flights · better than the UK average

Average delay
12.3 min

UK average 15.1 min

Source: UK Civil Aviation Authority punctuality statistics 2025 – departures and arrivals combined, measured against the schedule at the UK airport. How we use this data

UK airportFlightsOn time3 h+ lateCancelled
London Heathrow1,49680.3%0.93%0.27%
Manchester30678.2%0.65%0.65%

What to know when claiming from Kuwait Airways

  • Kuwait Airways' EU passenger-rights notice asks you to send compensation claims by e-mail to customer-relations@kuwaitairways.com, or by post to Kuwait Airways Customer Relations, PO Box 394, Safat 13004, Kuwait. Claims cannot be processed at the airport. One claim can cover up to 6 passengers with the same surname on the same booking.
  • Include your name and contact details, ticket number, booking reference, flight number and date, and copies of your documents. Kuwait Airways' UK dispute page promises a written acknowledgement within 30 days and a full reply within 60 days.
  • Kuwait Airways' UK dispute-resolution page says it is not subscribed to an approved ADR scheme outside Germany and refers passengers flying from London to the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT).

About Kuwait Airways

Kuwait Airways was founded in 1953 as Kuwait National Airways, took its present name in 1955 and has been wholly owned by the government of Kuwait since 1963. London was its first European destination, in March 1964. Its hub is Kuwait International Airport, and its long-haul fleet includes Boeing 777-300ERs.

In the UK it flies from London Heathrow and Manchester to Kuwait – 1,802 flights in the CAA's 2025 figures, with 79.9% on time and 0.89% arriving 3 hours or more late.

London–Kuwait is about 4,700 km, so a flight from the UK that reaches its final destination 4 hours or more late gives £520 per passenger (£260 for 3–4 hours). The return from Kuwait is not covered.

How to claim directly from Kuwait Airways

  • Official online form: kuwaitairways.com
  • E-mail: customer-relations@kuwaitairways.com
  • Postal address: Kuwait Airways Customer Relations (KWIQZKU), PO Box 394, Safat 13004, Kuwait
  • Kuwait Airways’ EC regulation notice sends compensation claims to this e-mail or postal address (not the airport); one claim can cover up to 6 passengers with the same surname on the same booking. Its UK dispute page promises an acknowledgement within 30 days and a reply within 60 days, says it is not in an approved ADR scheme outside Germany, and refers London passengers to the CAA’s PACT.
  • Our complaint letter generator writes the letter for you – filled in, as a printable PDF.

We checked these claim channels on the airline's own website (10 November 2026).

Frequently asked questions

Am I entitled to compensation if my Kuwait Airways flight was at least 3 hours late?

Yes, if the flight departed from an EU airport and the delay was not caused by extraordinary circumstances. The amount depends on the distance: €250, €400 or €600.

How do I submit a claim to Kuwait Airways?

Directly through the airline's customer service form (https://kuwaitairways.com/en/information/usefulinfo/Pages/ec-regulation.aspx), or through our partner AirHelp, which checks the flight data and, if the airline rejects the claim, takes the case to the enforcement body or to court – for a fee of 35% only if it succeeds.

How long do I have to claim for a Kuwait Airways flight?

Limitation periods vary by country and are set by national law – for example 6 years in England & Wales, 5 years in Scotland and Hungary, and 3 years in Germany (from the end of the year). AirHelp typically accepts claims for flights up to 3 years old.

Kuwait Airways offered me a voucher instead of compensation. Do I have to accept it?

No. Under the Regulation, compensation is paid in money; the airline may only give you a voucher with your written agreement. If you want money, do not accept it.

Flew with another airline?

The Kuwait Airways name and trademark belong to their owner; EU261 Flight Delay is an independent information site with no connection to the airline. The content is for information only and is not legal advice. We receive a commission when a claim submitted through our partner links succeeds.

Sources

  1. Kuwait Airways – official claim / complaints page – Kuwait Airways
  2. UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 – UK Civil Aviation Authority
  3. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – EUR-Lex
  4. Delays and cancellations – your rights – UK Civil Aviation Authority

We check every rule against the sources above. Spotted an error? Tell us – see our editorial policy.