Kuwait axes LHR – NY service

Flights between London and New York by Kuwait Airlines are being suspended by the airline until February in a long-running dispute over ticket sales to Israeli citizens. 

The carrier had been accused by the US Department of Transportation of discrimination after an Israeli citizen was allegedly refused a seat on a flight two months ago. 

The DoT said last week that airline had told it that it would be “eliminating” services between Heathrow and New York JFK. Kuwait Airlines said passengers already booked and ticketed for travel between now and February can still travel “after which they will be suspended until the issue with the US government has been resolved.”

The carrier said Kuwaiti law prevented it entering agreements “with entities or persons residing in Israel or with Israeli citizenship”. However, an official said the policy was not discriminatory because the airline could sell tickets to passengers regardless of race, national origin or religion so long as they held a passport valid in Kuwait.

The airline said its three times a week services would continue between Heathrow and Kuwait City and between JFK and Kuwait City.  www.kuwaitairways.com

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