Qatar Airways announces special flights for stranded passengers as Qatari airspace closure continues

Qatar Airways says its scheduled flight operations remain temporarily suspended. Qatar Airways says its scheduled flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the ongoing closure ofQatari airspace, but the airline will operate a limited number of repatriation flights for stranded passengers while authorities assess when normal services can safely resume. In a statement issued on Saturday, the airline said it intends to run specialflightsfrom Doha’s Hamad International Airport on March 7 to several major European hubs, including London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Madrid, Rome and Frankfurt.

The flights follow temporary authorisation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirming a safe operating corridor for limited operations. However, the carrier stressed that the services are strictly relief flights and should not be viewed as a return to normal commercial operations. Priority for the limited seats has been given to the most vulnerable passengers affected by the disruption, including families, elderly travellers and those with urgent medical or compassionate needs.

The airline said the flights were pre-allocated directly to affected passengers and that travellers should not go to the airport unless they have received official confirmation from Qatar Airways. The airline added that passengers who are eligible have already been contacted with their flight details and travel arrangements, while additional relief flights may be organised if operational conditions allow. “Please ensure your contact details are up to date so we can reach you with flight information and instructions,” the airline said, urging customers to update their information through its website or mobile app.

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Qatar Airways also reminded travellers with confirmed bookings between February 28 and March 15, 2026, that they may change their travel dates by up to 14 days without penalty or request a refund for the unused value of their tickets. The airline said the safety of passengers and crew remains its top priority and apologised for the disruption, which it described as being beyond its control. The suspension of flights follows the temporary closure of Qatar’s airspace by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority amid escalating military tensions across the Middle East linked to the widening conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

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