In short
- Twice-weekly non-stop Kuwait–Phuket flights started on 27 October 2026, on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
- A third weekly rotation runs on Thursdays from 10 December 2026 to 3 February 2027.
- A new Wednesday service, KU409/KU410, operates from 9 December 2026 to 3 February 2027.
- The 278-seat Airbus A330-900neo adds 556 inbound seats a week at Phuket, according to TAT.
What to do
- 1Check the day of travel before booking: Tuesday and Saturday outside the high-season window, plus Wednesday and Thursday from 9 December to 3 February.
- 2Confirm the timetable with Kuwait Airways before paying, since the extra rotations are seasonal.
- 3Plan the Wednesday return carefully: KU410 reaches Kuwait at 4.10 am the following day.
- 4Book airport transfers in advance if you land on the 2.55 pm arrival from Kuwait.
What changes for travellers?
Kuwait Airways began flying non-stop between Kuwait International Airport (KWI) and Phuket International Airport (HKT) on 27 October 2026, with two rotations a week, according to the schedule published that day. A third weekly rotation is added for the high season, and a fourth between 9 December 2026 and 3 February 2027.
| Flight | Route | Day | Departs | Arrives | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KU407 | Kuwait → Phuket | Tuesday, Saturday | 3.30 am | 2.55 pm | From 27 Oct 2026 |
| KU408 | Phuket → Kuwait | Tuesday, Saturday | 4.15 pm | 8.35 pm | From 27 Oct 2026 |
| KU407 (extra) | Kuwait → Phuket | Thursday | 3.30 am | 2.55 pm | 10 Dec 2026 – 3 Feb 2027 |
| KU409 | Kuwait → Phuket | Wednesday | 10.50 am | 10.15 pm | 9 Dec 2026 – 3 Feb 2027 |
| KU410 | Phuket → Kuwait | Wednesday | 11.50 pm | 4.10 am next day | 9 Dec 2026 – 3 Feb 2027 |
Two rotations a week are flown with a 278-seat Airbus A330-900neo. According to TAT figures quoted in the same announcement, the Phuket route brings 556 additional seats into Phuket each week; counting Bangkok and Phuket together, the carrier's weekly inbound capacity into Thailand reaches 2,560 seats, against 2,004 for the Bangkok route alone, an increase of 27.7 per cent.
Who is affected?
The route concerns travellers flying between Kuwait and southern Thailand, and anyone planning a Phuket stay in the December–February period who prefers a direct flight to a connection. TAT figures cited in the same announcement put Phuket at 35.06 per cent of Kuwaiti visitors and Krabi at 10.93 per cent; for transfers on arrival, see Phuket Airport, and for boats onwards, Island hopping.
Thailand recorded 48,049 arrivals from Kuwait between 1 January and 20 October 2026, with 55,300 projected for the full year. The same figures give an average spend of 96,590 baht per person per trip over 13.14 nights.
What does not change?
Kuwait Airways keeps its six weekly Kuwait–Bangkok flights, so Bangkok and the north remain reachable at the same frequency. Outside 9 December–3 February, Phuket stays at two rotations a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Other airlines' schedules to Phuket are not affected by this announcement.
What should you check before booking?
If your trip continues beyond Phuket, the extra rotations make a same-week arrival and departure easier to combine with a Krabi or Phi Phi leg. For the weather month by month, see When to go.
Travelling soon? Plan around it
Build a day-by-day Thailand route that keeps flexible days where the weather and transport are uncertain.
FAQ
Questions
Do the extra flights operate all year?
No. The Wednesday KU409/KU410 rotation runs from 9 December 2026 to 3 February 2027, and the additional Thursday KU407 rotation from 10 December 2026 to 3 February 2027. Outside those dates the route is twice weekly.
Can I still fly Kuwait Airways to Bangkok?
What aircraft is used to Phuket?
A 278-seat Airbus A330-900neo, according to the announcement. It adds 556 inbound seats a week at Phuket.
Sources
We cross-check each story against official pages and several media, and rewrite it in our own words for travellers.
