The Council of Ministers (parliament) on 17 November announced that it had agreed to open up the airline sector in the country. 'The Council of Ministers has approved granting licences for the establishment of air freight companies, passenger transport and no-frills airlines,' the cabinet said in a statement after its weekly meeting. The cabinet said that the decision had been made after it had studied applications from investors to set up private airlines. The cabinet added that any company wanting to invest in an airline in Kuwait would be allowed to hold a maximum stake of 30 per cent, while the rest should be open for public subscription.