Jazeera Airways has launched a new air-land cargo operation through Saudi Arabia as it works around the airspace closures that have disrupted flights from Kuwait.
The Kuwait-based low-cost carrier is now operating into King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Qaisumah-Hafar Al-Batin International Airport before trucking cargo onward into Kuwait.
The move follows the closure of Kuwait International Airport after the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict at the end of February.
Cargo arriving in Dammam is being handled by SATS at its 60,000 sq m facility. The operation there began on 26 March and includes general cargo as well as perishables such as frozen meat, fruit and vegetables.
By shifting activity to two Saudi airports, Jazeera has been able to scale up operations significantly. The airline said the model supports 27 destinations, more than 1,500 flights, 450,000 seats and 2m tons of cargo capacity across the network through to 15 May.
The initiative, operating under the codename Project Baraka, is designed to help Kuwait maintain connectivity during the ongoing conflict.
Bob Chi, chief executive of SATS Asia Pacific gateway services, said the partnership is intended to keep vital cargo flows moving into Kuwait, including food, pharmaceuticals and critical spare parts. He added that SATS would use its global network across 27 countries to limit disruption as the regional operating environment continues to evolve.
Jazeera Airways chief executive Barathan Pasupathi said the airline had moved quickly to establish a cross-border air-land operating model in response to unprecedented operational challenges. He described the collaboration with SATS as central to maintaining the uninterrupted flow of essential goods into Kuwait.
Jazeera Airways currently operates a fleet of 23 Airbus A320ceo and A320neo aircraft.
