Qatar Airways is the first major airline to suspend all flights to and from its capital, Doha, as conflict between Israel and Iran escalates in the Middle East. The airspace over Qatar was closed Saturday due to missile attacks between the two countries, with Iran also targeting U.S. military bases in Doha.
Flight Disruptions and Airspace Closures
Qatar Airways suspended all arrivals and departures from Doha on Saturday as a result of the escalating conflict. The airline stated it is working closely with government stakeholders and relevant authorities to support impacted passengers and will resume operations when the airspace re-opens.
The airline anticipates delays to its flight schedule once usual operations resume. Flights from Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth turned back to Australia when Qatar Airways announced the flight suspension.
Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Bahrain and Jordan was empty early Saturday as airlines avoided the region due to the conflict. Dubai Airports also suspended all flight operations in and out of Dubai International and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International until further notice.
International Response and Airline Actions
Emirates has temporarily suspended its operations to and from Dubai due to the airspace closures. The airline urged customers to check online for updates and stated it is continuously monitoring the situation and communicating with relevant authorities.
Emirates adheres to all regulatory requirements and follows guidance issued by aviation authorities. The airline apologized to affected customers for any inconvenience caused by the disruptions and is working to assist them with rebooking, ticket refunds, or alternative travel arrangements.
Other airlines including British Airways, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and Wizz Air have also halted flights to and from the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran has been perpetrating “mass terror” and the U.S. “isn’t going to put up with it any longer.” Earlier, the U.S. aided Israel in launching an air and sea attack on Iran after the country reportedly refused to stop its nuclear ambitions during earlier negotiations.
Iran launched a wave of missiles and drone attacks at Israel and at U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar to “defend the homeland and confront the enemy’s military assault,” its foreign ministry said.
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