Jazeera Airways Wins IDC CIO Excellence Award for Mission Barakah

Recognition highlights technology, innovation and operational resilience behind Jazeera Airways’ response during the temporary closure of Kuwait International Airport

Jazeera Airways has been recognized at the IDC CIO Excellence Awards, Kuwait for Mission Barakah, the airline’s large-scale contingency operation launched to maintain vital connectivity for Kuwait during the temporary closure of Kuwait International Airport earlier this year.

Selected from a highly competitive pool of nominations from across Kuwait, the award recognizes the innovation, leadership and impact demonstrated through Mission Barakah, including the rapid deployment of technology solutions that enabled Jazeera Airways to manage an unprecedented and complex operating environment.

Launched on 11 March 2026, Mission Barakah established alternative operating hubs in Saudi Arabia and an integrated air-land corridor connecting passengers with Kuwait. Over the course of the operation, Jazeera Airways operated more than 1,500 flights and over 9,000 bus movements, providing around 200,000 seats across 27 destinations, while deploying 14 aircraft and more than 500 employees.

Barathan Pasupathi, Chief Executive Officer, Jazeera Airways, said:

“Mission Barakah was an extraordinary test of our people, our systems and our ability to respond with speed and agility. Technology was at the heart of that response, enabling our teams to rapidly adapt our operations, connect multiple locations and make informed decisions in real time. This award is a proud recognition of the ingenuity and determination of our technology team and every colleague across Jazeera Airways who worked together to keep Kuwait connected. More importantly, it demonstrates what we can achieve when innovation is driven by a clear purpose and supported by exceptional teamwork.”

Technology played a critical role in enabling the operation. Jazeera Airways teams rapidly developed and deployed digital solutions to provide greater operational visibility, coordination and real-time decision-making across multiple locations. These included the R2P Bus Monitoring System, developed in just five days to track and coordinate bus movements, alongside enhanced operational dashboards and data-driven tools supporting teams throughout the mission.

Praful Thummar, Vice President of Cybersecurity, AI and Technology, Jazeera Airways, said:

“Mission Barakah demonstrated what technology can achieve when it is closely connected to a clear operational purpose. This recognition from IDC belongs to everyone across Jazeera Airways who brought together technology, operational expertise and teamwork to keep Kuwait connected.”

As part of the IDC CIO Excellence Awards, Kuwait, Capt. Ayman Alshammari and Thummar also participated in panel discussions titled – “The CIO Talent Agenda: How CIOs, CHROs, and Business Leaders Are Shaping the Future Workforce” and  “Agentic AI in Action: Industry Use Cases and Early Wins,” respectively. 

Jazeera Airways continues to invest in digital transformation across its operations, with technology playing an increasingly important role in supporting safety, efficiency, scalability and customer experience.