summary
- Kuwait Airways launches flights from Kuwait to Washington Dulles
- It’s a new route for shipping companies.
- Dulles is Kuwait’s largest untapped North American market
Kuwait Airways has added Washington Dulles to its network despite not being a Star Alliance member. From December, it will be the longest route in the world by Airbus A330-800neo. I’ve written before about the unpopularity of this type and its surprisingly short flight times. This paired airport was last operated by United Airlines between 2006 and 2016. It appeared to revolve around US government business.
Kuwait Airways Adds Washington Dulles
We took off on December 15th and this route was on the timetable in early August, but I was out so I didn’t pick it up. Nevertheless, it is an important advance. It will be Kuwait Airways’ second US destination after New York JFK, which switched to the A330neo in March 2023.
Dulles Airlines will operate three weekly flights, also using the 235-seat A330neo with 32 business seats and 203 economy seats. However, as far as I know, Kuwait Airways does not have a crew lounge, so some business class seats will not be sold, which will reduce the number of seats available for sale.
Photo: Airbus.
The 6,575-mile (10,581 km) route is scheduled as follows and all times are local. Assuming Dulles operates year-round instead of winter, even the A330neo may encounter loading restrictions at 08:00 departure due to Kuwait’s unusually hot summer. This can further reduce the economic performance of the route.
- Kuwait to Dulles: KU115, 08:00-13:55 (13 hours 55 minutes)
- From Dulles to Kuwait: KU116, 16:30-13:00+1
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Kuwait’s largest unserviced market
Kuwait-Dulles Airport handled more than 35,000 round-trip passengers in 2019, making it the largest North American market not served by Middle East airports, according to booking data.
As expected, Dulles’ hours of operation are similar to the daily service to JFK. The December JFK flight departs at 09:05 (08:00 to Dulles) and arrives at 13:00 (same time).
That means most of the same places JFK passengers go (via Kuwait) apply to Dulles, to varying degrees. Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE will be of particular importance.
The world’s longest A330-800 route
This version of the A330neo is very unpopular among airlines, with only Uganda Airways and Air Greenland in commercial use alongside Kuwait Airways. It is one of the rarest commercial aircraft in the world still in service today.
It’s subject to change, but here’s the longest route so far: December to February As of mid-August. Long range here is defined as over 3,000 miles (4,828 km), but notice that the length of the sector rapidly decreases into the sub-long range region. You wouldn’t necessarily notice that this variant was built for range.
miles (km) |
Max block time* |
root |
Airlines |
A330-800 flight |
find flight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6,575 (10,581) |
13 hours 55 minutes |
Kuwait to Washington Dulles |
Kuwait Airways |
3 times a week |
|
6,352 (10,223) |
13 hours 20 minutes |
Kuwait to New York JFK |
Kuwait Airways |
every day |
|
3,531 (5,683) |
7 hours 45 minutes |
Kuwait to Bangkok |
Kuwait Airways |
4 times per week** |
|
3,261 (5,248) |
7 hours 35 minutes |
Kuwait to Casablanca |
Kuwait Airways |
weekly** |
|
2,898 (4,664) |
4 hours 40 minutes |
Kangerlussuaq to Copenhagen |
Air Greenland |
Up to 6 times a week, usually 4 |
|
*either direction |
** See other types Dec-Feb |
Where else would you like Kuwait Airways to fly? Let us know in the comments.
Sources: OAG, Cirium, US DOT T-100, Reserved Data.