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Gulf Carriers Resume Limited Flights Amid Regional Airspace Closures

Major Gulf carriers like Emirates and Etihad have resumed limited flight operations following regional airspace closures, with services gradually restoring. Emirates has resumed a reduced schedule, allowing passengers with confirmed bookings to proceed, while Qatar Airways plans limited relief flights for passengers whose final destination is Doha. Oman Air has cancelled numerous flights to and from key Gulf and other cities through mid-March due to the ongoing closures. The disruptions stem from the West Asia crisis, with airspace restrictions persisting in several countries, though Muscat has emerged as a key transit point for rerouted services.

Key Points: Gulf Airlines Resume Limited Flights Amid Regional Volatility

  • Emirates resumes operations to 82-83 destinations
  • Qatar Airways plans limited relief flights from Europe
  • Oman Air cancels flights to multiple Gulf cities
  • Airspace restrictions remain in Qatar, Bahrain, Iran, and Iraq
3 min read

Gulf carriers resume operations, operate limited flights amid regional volatility

Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways resume limited operations with relief corridors for stranded passengers as regional airspace closures continue.

"The safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority and will not be compromised. - Emirates Airlines statement"

New Delhi, March 7

Major Gulf carriers, including Emirates and Etihad, have resumed limited flight operations as of Saturday, following regional airspace closures. Services are gradually restoring, with some restricted to "relief corridors" for stranded passengers.

Emirates Airlines, in a statement, said that it has resumed operations. Passengers who have confirmed bookings for this afternoon's flights may proceed to the airport. This includes customers transiting in Dubai, if their connecting flight is also operating.

Customers can check the flight schedule for upcoming flights, as well as book seats to travel: emirat.es/nowoperating.

Emirates continues to monitor the situation, and we will develop our operational schedule accordingly, the statement said.

"We would like to thank our customers for their understanding and patience. The safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority and will not be compromised," the statement said further.

Qatar Airways said it would operate limited flights to Doha. Qatar Airways' scheduled flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace. The airlines will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe full reopening of Qatari airspace by the relevant authorities, as per a statement by the airlines. A further update will be provided on 8 March by 09:00 Doha time (06:00 UTC).

Following temporary authorisation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirming a safe operating corridor, Qatar Airways intends to operate the following flights on 8 March to Hamad International Airport from: London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Madrid (MAD), Rome (FCO), Frankfurt (FRA) and Bangkok (BKK), the statement added.

These flights are only for passengers whose final destination is Doha. To book, please visit the Qatar Airways website or App or a travel agent. These flights do not constitute a confirmation of the resumption of scheduled commercial operations, as per a statement by the airlines.

Passengers are kindly asked not to arrive at their departure airport unless they hold a valid confirmed ticket for travel.

The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority during this period of disruption. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused by the current situation, which is beyond our control, and thank our passengers for their patience and understanding, the statement said.

Oman Air also issued a statement saying that due to ongoing regional airspace closures, the following flights have been cancelled: Monday, 9 March through Wednesday, 11 March 2026: All flights to and from Amman (AMM), Dubai (DXB), Bahrain (BAH), Doha (DOH), Dammam (DMM), Kuwait (KWI), Copenhagen (CPH), Baghdad (BGW), and Khasab (KHS).

Additional flights have been added to accommodate our guests, and we kindly advise checking omanair.com regularly for the latest schedule updates.

Emirates resumed a reduced schedule to 82-83 destinations, aiming for 100% capacity soon. Etihad Airways restarted a restricted schedule from Abu Dhabi to Asia, Europe, and North America

Qatar Airways started limited relief flights from Muscat and Riyadh to Europe, while Saudia extended cancellations to/from 8 cities, including Dubai and Doha. flydubai & Air Arabia also resumed limited operations.

Airspace restrictions remain in Qatar, Bahrain, Iran, and Iraq. Muscat is a key transit point for rerouted services.

The flight disruptions continue amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, which has resulted in airspace closures and widespread impact on aviation operations across the region.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see operations resuming, but the communication from these airlines could have been much better. My family in Kerala was trying to get updates for 2 days with no clear info. Websites were crashing. They need a better crisis management plan for the lakhs of Indians who depend on these routes.
D
David E
As someone who frequently travels between Bangalore and Frankfurt for work, this is crucial news. Etihad and Emirates are lifelines for business travel to Europe and the US from South India. Hoping the 100% capacity is restored soon. The economic impact of this disruption is massive.
A
Aman W
Safety first, absolutely. But the fares for these limited flights have skyrocketed. It's exploiting the situation. Middle-class families who had budget tickets are now being asked to pay double or triple. The DGCA or our government should look into this price gouging.
S
Shreya B
Muscat becoming a key transit point is interesting. It shows how geopolitics directly changes travel logistics. Many of our nurses and healthcare workers travelling to Gulf countries must be going through immense stress. Hope the situation stabilizes for their sake.
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Vikram M
This West Asia crisis is a reminder of why we need to strengthen our own aviation sector and maybe develop more direct long-haul routes from Indian carriers. Over-reliance on foreign hubs makes us vulnerable every time there's regional tension. Jai Hind!

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