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Move over, seltzer. Non-carbonated drinks are taking the spotlight

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Move over, seltzer. Non-carbonated drinks are taking the spotlight

Surfside drinks on display at the trade show during CinemaCon 2026 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on April 15, 2026.

Travis P Ball | AP

About a decade ago, sales of LaCroix began to skyrocket. Soon, flavored seltzers were everywhere, from grocery store refrigerators to liquor store shelves.

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But the era of bubbles looks like it is winding down, thanks to seltzer fatigue. Now, non-carbonated drinks, from Liquid Death to Surfside Iced Teas, are taking the spotlight.

“If you think about where there’s more growth, where there’s more consumer interest relative to a few years ago, it’s a shift more to still, across both [alcohol] and non-alc,” said Randy Burt, Americas director of consumer products at consulting firm AlixPartners.

That’s not to say seltzers and other carbonated beverages will disappear. But their growth has slowed, as Generation Z increasingly seeks out options without bubbles and beverage companies focus more of their innovation efforts on fizz-free drinks.

Look no further than the alcohol category. Malt-based hard seltzers, which includes White Claw, saw volume drop 1.1% in the 52 weeks ended April 26, compared with the year-ago period, according to data from market research firm Circana. On the other hand, ready-to-drink premixed cocktails saw volume grow 46.4% in the same time, fueled by growth from Surfside, Sun Cruiser, BuzzBallz and Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Cutwater Spirits, which has both carbonated and non-carbonated options.

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Bursting bubbles

Much of the driving force behind the switch from bubbly to noncarbonated drinks is coming from Gen Z, which is typically defined as people born between 1997 and 2012. Over their lifetime, soda consumption has dropped dramatically from its peak in 1998, reusable water bottles have become a staple accessory, and a plethora of new drinks like refreshers and dirty soda have gone mainstream.

Broadly, Gen Z wants to try new products. While older generations show more brand loyalty to their favorite beer or cocktail, younger consumers have a different mentality.

“We’re seeing a lot of promiscuity within consumption and alcohol around new products,” said Scott Scanlon, executive vice president of alcoholic beverages for Circana, citing the rise of White Claw and Truly about eight years ago. “Now what we’re seeing is then consumers jump to the newest product — that’s Surfside, Sun Cruiser because of that.”

He sees a generational shift between Gen Z and their predecessors, millennials, who couldn’t get enough of seltzers.

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As Gen Z reaches drinking age, their alcoholic preferences reflect that generational divide. Non-carbonated alcoholic drinks like Surfside and BeatBox are stealing “share of throat” from hard seltzers, which have seen their growth slow.

“Gen Z is a lot more likely to order tea-based beverages at happy hour, and they’re sort of moving from carbonated — or seltzers — as their default, ‘better for you’ pick,” Burt said. “I think that’s part of the shift, toward wellness and functionality that you’re seeing happen, especially from a Gen Z perspective.”

For fans of some beverages, like functional teas and coffees that target stress relief or immune support, going fizz-free makes more sense, given the drinks’ non-carbonated base.

Plus, some consumers do not view carbonation as the healthy option.

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Carbonated water is slightly acidic, which can wear down tooth enamel when consumed in large quantities, especially if the seltzer uses citric acid for flavoring. Plus fizzy drinks can cause bloating and burping for some people. And then there’s the association bubbles of any kind can share with sugary sodas.

What’s the tea?

Alcohol is leading the trend, thanks to the meteoric rise of Surfside.

Indie vodka distiller Stateside Brands launched the hard iced tea brand in 2022. The ready-to-drink beverage uses vodka as a base and iced tea and lemonade as a mixer.

At the time of its launch, carbonation was everywhere across the alcohol industry.

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“Among the options out there were carbonated iced tea and carbonated lemonade, which is a little less unusual, but we were just like ‘What the heck, man? Who carbonates iced tea?’ That seems unholy,” said Stateside co-founder and CEO Clement Pappas.

Consumers seemed to agree. By 2024, Surfside was the fastest-growing alcohol brand in the U.S., based on Nielsen IQ data.

“I think there was a huge pent-up demand for non-carbonated options,” Pappas said. “There are very few out there, especially in a ready-to-drink format.”

Surfside’s customer base skews female. Pappas said that many of the brand’s fans dislike carbonation because they find it leads to bloating, particularly after consuming several drinks in a sitting.

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Stateside is leaning further into fizz-free beverages with its latest brand: Super Lyte. The brand still uses vodka as a base, but the mixer is inspired by classic sports drinks.

While Surfside may have popped the seltzer bubble, other non-carbonated alcoholic drinks have grown quickly since then.

Volume growth of Cutwater’s canned cocktails has nearly doubled over the last year, according to Scanlon. BeatBox, a wine-based punch brand that is majority owned by InBev, has also seen demand for its drinks skyrocket since the alcohol giant has ramped up its distribution. And then there is BuzzBallz pre-mixed cocktails, which launched in 2009 but has seen its growth rocket after its acquisition by Sazerac in 2024.

Established alcohol players have also been trying to take on Surfside, further boosting the profile of non-carbonated drinks in the category. Twisted Tea owner Boston Beer launched Sun Cruiser in 2024 with the aim of directly competing with Surfside.

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So far, Surfside retains a bigger slice of overall market share, although Sun Cruiser is growing faster these days.

Bubble-free Celsius heats up

Cases of Celsius energy drinks at a store in San Francisco on March 17, 2025.

David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

On the non-alcoholic side, the shift toward bubble-free drinks isn’t as strong, according to AlixPartners’ Burt. Some carbonated drinks are still showing strong growth; PepsiCo’s Poppi, as well as energy drinks like Celsius and Ghost, are seeing strong demand.

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But there are signs that the soft drink landscape is shifting.

Celsius, for example, expanded its fizz-free line of energy drinks earlier this year, inspired by Gen Z’s focus on wellness and the general trend toward noncarbonated beverages in other categories. Typically, carbonated options dominate the energy drink aisle, allowing Celsius to stand out and win over customers who might otherwise stick to tea or coffee for their caffeine fix.

The brand’s pre-existing noncarbonated peach mango green tea flavor is consistently a top 10 performer for Celsius and is currently in the number four slot across all of its flavors, according to Celsius Chief Brand Officer Kyle Watson.

The expanded line has helped Celsius grow sales from Gen Z and women, two key segments in the energy drink category.

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“In focus groups that we’ve had … even our brand ambassadors across all of our universities, a lot of them talk about how they don’t like drinking sparkling,” Watson said.

When consumers drink “functional beverages — like those touting high protein content, prebiotics, caffeine or other benefits — they want “a better flavor experience,” according to Watson.

Watson said that part of the appeal of the fizz-free line is how it goes down “really smooth,” making it a better pairing for meals. About 37% of Celsius consumers consume their energy drinks with a meal, according to Watson.

And Celsius has made sure to put its noncarbonated bona fides front and center of the line’s packaging.

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“With the expansion, we also wanted to make sure that the callout around being fizz-free and that attribute of it being noncarbonated and having that smooth, refreshing flavor profile was more prevalent on the actual can design,” Watson said.

Some other beverage brands are betting big on the swing away from fizz.

“Our product is extremely drinkable because of the lack of carbonation,” Hint CEO Michael Pengue said in an interview.

Founded in 2005, the flavored water company has a devoted fan base, particularly in Silicon Valley. But the brand has gotten “dusty,” and its growth has stagnated, according to Pengue. He is hoping that consumers’ shift away from bubbles will boost sales, along with new packaging and a sexy new ad campaign. (While Hint has some sparkling options, it is a much smaller part of the brand’s portfolio, according to Pengue.)

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Earlier in Pengue’s career, he led Nestle’s water and tea brands, which includes Perrier and San Pellegrino.

“I was on the other side of carbonation when carbonated soft drink consumers were looking for healthier alternatives, getting away from aspartame or high fructose corn syrup, and they moved over to Perrier, San Pellegrino, Polar, LaCroix,” he said. “All of sparkling [water] exploded. We’re seeing the same exact thing now, just the opposite.”

Hint’s still flavored water offers “drinkability” and “pure hydration”, giving the brand an edge over sparkling waters that cannot be drank as quickly, according to Pengue. He said it also has a “sensory softness” that appeals to consumers who do not like the bite of carbonation.

Can-do attitude

For decades, an aluminum can with a pull tab usually meant a carbonated beverage like beer, soda or seltzer was inside.

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But these days, most new non-carbonated drinks are coming in cans, resembling the seltzers and bubbly drinks from which they are stealing share.

“The can is winning,” Ball CEO Ronald Lewis said on the company’s earnings conference call earlier this month.

Liquid Death canned water drinks at a store in Pinole, California, US, on Monday, March 11, 2024.

David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

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He would know. Ball is the world’s largest manufacturer of aluminum packaging.

Celsius’s Watson credits Liquid Death with paving the way for consumers to accept fizz-free canned drinks.

When Liquid Death founder Mike Cessario started the company in 2017, he could not find a single bottler in the U.S. capable of putting still water in cans. Non-carbonated drinks require a quick dose of nitrogen to keep the can from collapsing on itself, presenting one issue for bottlers; carbonation creates high internal pressure to allows a can to keep its shape.

Cessario told CNBC that the key to getting consumers to buy canned water — an otherwise unthinkable proposition — was by positioning Liquid Death as a cool brand.

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“We designed it to look more like a beer than a water, so it felt like something a lot more familiar to people than just like a weird bottled water in a can,” Cessario said.

Liquid Death has since launch sparkling and flavored sparkling lines, although it returned to its non-carbonated roots with iced tea in 2023.

For beverage companies, aluminum cans are typically cheaper than glass bottles and a more sustainable option than plastic bottles.

And for consumers, cans feel colder — and maybe even cooler, a callback to the last wave of trendy beverages during the seltzer boom.

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India’s central bank can let rupee slide further as macro fallout will be limited

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Alex Palou Claims Pole for 2026 Indianapolis 500 with Full Starting Grid Set

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Alex Palou Claims Pole for 2026 Indianapolis 500 with Full

INDIANAPOLIS — Defending champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing will start from pole position for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 25, 2026, after posting the fastest qualifying speed of 232.248 mph.

Alexander Rossi of Ed Carpenter Racing qualified second at 231.990 mph, and David Malukas of Team Penske will start third at 231.877 mph.

The complete 33-car starting grid for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing was finalized following qualifying sessions at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Full 2026 Indianapolis 500 Starting Grid

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Row 1

  1. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 232.248 mph
  2. Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 231.990 mph
  3. David Malukas, Team Penske, Chevrolet, 231.877 mph

Row 24. Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian, Honda, 231.375 mph 5. Santino Ferrucci, AJ Foyt Racing, Chevrolet, 230.846 mph 6. Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet, 230.442 mph

Row 3 7. Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 230.883 mph 8. Conor Daly, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Chevrolet, 230.712 mph 9. Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, Chevrolet, 230.577 mph

Row 4 10. Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 230.347 mph 11. Rinus VeeKay, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Chevrolet, 229.585 mph 12. Takuma Sato, RLL Racing, Honda, 230.995 mph

Row 5 13. Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 230.829 mph 14. Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian, Honda, 230.811 mph 15. Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 230.705 mph

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Row 6 16. Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian, Chevrolet, 230.701 mph 17. Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global, Honda, 230.667 mph 18. Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet, 230.661 mph

Row 7 19. Will Power, Andretti Global, Honda, 230.279 mph 20. Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet, 230.213 mph 21. Louis Foster, RLL Racing, Honda, 230.212 mph

Row 8 22. Ryan Hunter-Reay, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet, 230.202 mph 23. Josef Newgarden, Team Penske, Chevrolet, 230.165 mph 24. Romain Grosjean, Dale Coyne Racing, Honda, 229.791 mph

Row 9 25. Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, Honda, 229.607 mph 26. Katherine Legge, HMD Motorsports w/ AJ Foyt Racing, Chevrolet, 229.456 mph 27. Mick Schumacher (R), RLL Racing, Honda, 229.450 mph

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Row 10 28. Graham Rahal, RLL Racing, Honda, 229.017 mph 29. Dennis Hauger (R), Dale Coyne Racing, Honda, 228.982 mph 30. Jacob Abel (R), Abel Motorsports, Chevrolet, 228.169 mph

Row 11 31. Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Chevrolet, 226.572 mph 32. Caio Collet (R), AJ Foyt Racing, Chevrolet, 230.539 mph 33. Jack Harvey, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Chevrolet, 229.207 mph

Race Details

The green flag for the 110th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET on FOX. WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark will serve as the Grand Marshal for this year’s event.

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Palou enters as a strong favorite after securing the pole. The race covers 200 laps and 500 miles on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval.

Multiple rookies will make their Indianapolis 500 debuts, including Mick Schumacher, Dennis Hauger and Jacob Abel. Veteran drivers such as Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon and Will Power bring extensive experience to the field.

Qualifying Highlights

Qualifying took place over multiple days, with positions determined by four-lap average speeds. Palou’s speed of 232.248 mph set the pace for the field. The grid reflects a competitive mix of manufacturers, with Honda and Chevrolet-powered entries distributed across the starting positions.

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Team Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing, Arrow McLaren and Andretti Global field multiple strong contenders. The race will test strategy, pit stops and mechanical reliability over the long distance.

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POET Technologies: Great Technology, Terrible Investment (NASDAQ:POET)

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This article was written by

Bears of Wall Street is a community of asset managers and traders who take a pragmatic approach to valuing companies. Bears of Wall Street provide unique research with a bearish sentiment on overvalued or weak companies with declining businesses and poor growth perspectives – companies whose likely depreciation can be capitalized on.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Veris Residential investors brace for last earnings before sale

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ICON earnings ahead: First results since accounting probe ends

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Elon Musk Agrees Not Releasing Bodycam Footage in UK Stabbing Case Is Admission of Guilt

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Elon Musk Predicts Universal High Income and Deflation as AI

LONDONElon Musk replied “True” to a post on X stating that British police not releasing bodycam footage in the stabbing death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak is an admission of guilt.

The original post by user @C_3C_3 on May 24, 2026, read: “Want some truth? Not releasing Police Bodycam footage is an admission of guilt. The British Police are not releasing Henry Nowak’s. What’s that tell you…”

Musk’s reply generated significant engagement, with more than 78,000 likes and 9.2 million views within hours.

Case Background

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Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student, was stabbed multiple times in what authorities have described as a violent incident. Reports indicate he was bleeding out and begged officers for help, but police reportedly handcuffed him first after the attacker claimed racism.

The family and public have demanded the release of bodycam footage. Police have not released the video, citing ongoing investigations and legal procedures.

Musk’s comment has amplified calls for transparency in the case. Multiple X users echoed similar sentiments, with one stating, “If nothing to hide then shouldn’t be an issue to show ever imo.”

Public and Political Reaction

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The incident has fueled debate over policing, transparency and two-tier justice claims in the United Kingdom. Several users called for immediate release of the footage to restore public trust.

One post read: “The UK police are culpable and must be held accountable and officers prosecuted if necessary.” Another added: “Not releasing the full bodycam footage of Henry Nowak bleeding out while handcuffed isn’t ‘procedure’ it’s a massive red flag.”

The case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile incidents where bodycam footage was released promptly. Critics argue the delay in this case raises questions about accountability.

Musk’s Pattern of Commentary

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Elon Musk, owner of X, frequently comments on global events and government transparency. His reply aligns with previous statements advocating for open information and accountability in law enforcement matters.

The post has sparked renewed discussion about freedom of information and police practices in the UK. Some users referenced the Freedom of Information Act and called for its stronger application.

Broader Context

Henry Nowak’s death has become a focal point for concerns about knife crime, policing priorities and transparency in the United Kingdom. The incident occurred amid ongoing national debates about public safety and institutional trust.

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Police have stated that investigations are active and footage may be released at an appropriate time. No timeline has been provided. Family members and supporters continue to press for full disclosure.

Musk’s involvement has significantly increased visibility of the case. The original post and his reply together generated millions of impressions across the platform.

Social Media Response

The thread includes hundreds of replies. One user wrote: “They have blood on their hands!” Another said: “Stinks of an establishment cover up, if they had nothing to hide why wouldn’t they release the body cam footage.”

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Some users defended police procedures, citing contempt of court laws and ongoing trials. One reply stated: “There is a trial actually happening at the moment. We have very strict Contempt of Court laws in the UK to prevent media influencing the outcome of a trial.”

Official Position

UK authorities have not issued a direct response to Musk’s comment. The Metropolitan Police and relevant forces maintain standard policies regarding bodycam footage release during active investigations.

The case continues to develop as public pressure mounts for greater transparency. Supporters of the Nowak family have organized online campaigns using hashtags such as #ReleaseTheBodycam and #JusticeForHenry.

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Benny Blanco Supports Selena Gomez in Reported X-Rated Film Project

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LOS ANGELES — Insiders say music producer Benny Blanco is supportive of his wife Selena Gomez’s reported involvement in director Brady Corbet’s upcoming film “The Origin of the World,” described as an X-rated project generating early awards discussion.

Gomez’s participation has drawn attention as a step in her efforts to expand her acting range. The film is said to include Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender, although official casting has not been confirmed.

A source told the Daily Mail that Gomez has long sought to evolve her career beyond her early Disney Channel image. The insider said, “People seem to forget that Selena did the movie Spring Breakers, but that movie was very risky with the choices it made and the nudity and drugs, and the character that Selena played was something completely different from her Barney and Disney roots.”

The source added, “As she has gotten older, she has done work to not only test herself but also allow her to grow up in the industry.”

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Blanco’s Reported Stance

According to the source, Blanco is proud of Gomez’s decision to take on the role. The insider stated, “Benny is proud of Selena and her decision to move forward with working on the film.”

The source described Corbet as “so beloved that no matter what he brings to it, people are expecting it to be his Boogie Nights,” referring to Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 film known for combining explicit content with critical acclaim.

Gomez’s Career Direction

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Insiders say Gomez is focused on long-term recognition as an actress. One source said, “Selena is eager to win awards and be looked at as an actress with substance.”

The insider continued, “Being able to work on these movies that have an edge is something she sees as a means of extending her career.”

Gomez starred in “Spring Breakers” in 2012, a film that featured explicit content and marked a departure from her earlier roles. She has since taken on varied acting projects while maintaining her music and production work.

Project Background

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“The Origin of the World” is an upcoming project directed by Brady Corbet. Specific plot details have not been publicly released. The film has generated industry discussion regarding potential awards consideration.

Gomez and Blanco married in 2025. Blanco, a successful music producer, has collaborated with Gomez on various projects. The couple has kept their personal life relatively private while both continue active careers in entertainment.

Industry Context

Selena Gomez has transitioned from child and teen roles to more mature projects in recent years. She has spoken about her desire to take on challenging roles that test her range. Benny Blanco has been described as supportive of her professional ambitions.

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The reported film fits a pattern of actors moving into edgier material to expand their careers. Corbet has built a reputation as a director capable of handling complex and provocative stories.

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Kuwait International Airport Open on May 24 as Phased Recovery Continues After Earlier Disruptions

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Kuwait International Airport

KUWAIT CITY — Kuwait International Airport is open on Sunday, May 24, 2026, with commercial flights operating from Terminals 4 and 5 as the airport continues its phased recovery after earlier disruptions this year.

Kuwait International Airport
Kuwait International Airport

Kuwait Airways is using Terminal 4, while Jazeera Airways is operating from Terminal 5. The airport reopened its airspace in late April and resumed passenger flights in stages, marking a gradual return to service rather than a sudden return to full pre-disruption capacity.

Recent reporting says the recovery remains ongoing, with airlines rebuilding schedules and airport authorities coordinating operations carefully across the active terminals. The airport’s reopening has been managed in phases, with the focus on restoring service safely and steadily.

Terminal 1 remains under repair, and the airport has not yet returned to fully normal operations across all terminals. The current setup keeps most passenger traffic concentrated in Terminals 4 and 5 as the broader recovery continues.

Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways have been the primary carriers operating through the airport during the transition. Their return helped restore much of Kuwait’s direct air connectivity after the earlier closure and operational disruption.

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Travelers using the airport are being advised to check flight status directly with airlines before departure. Because the airport is still in a phased recovery, schedules can change as carriers adjust frequencies and routes.

The reopening has been welcomed as an important step for Kuwait’s air travel network and broader connectivity to the region. Commercial flights are once again moving through the airport, but the recovery process is still underway and not all facilities are operating at full capacity.

Officials have said the airport’s return to service is being handled carefully, with safety and coordination guiding the reopening process. For now, the airport is functioning and serving passengers, but the situation remains transitional rather than fully normalized.

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