Repatriation flights have restarted in Qatar after more than a week of disruptions to aviation across the Middle East, with authorities gradually reopening parts of the country’s airspace. Qatar Airways confirmed it is operating limited services to and from Hamad International Airport in Doha following authorisation of temporary flight corridors by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority.
The airline said these flights are intended to help stranded passengers return home but do not signal a full resumption of scheduled commercial operations. Up to 8,000 passengers were reportedly stranded in Qatar, with the government covering hotel costs and extending visas to accommodate them.
Qatar Airways has scheduled flights departing Doha on 10 March to destinations including Cairo, London Heathrow, Jeddah, Manila, Kochi, Muscat, Istanbul, Mumbai, Delhi, Nairobi, Islamabad, Madrid, Frankfurt, Colombo, Milan, and Moscow. Flights on 11 March will serve Cairo, Toronto, Dallas/Fort Worth, London Heathrow, Paris, Madrid, Rome, Delhi, Jeddah, Muscat, Hong Kong, Seoul, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Melbourne. Incoming flights to Doha are similarly scheduled for 10-12 March from cities such as Seoul, Moscow, London Heathrow, Delhi, Madrid, Islamabad, Beijing, Perth, Nairobi, Istanbul, Cairo, Jeddah, Manila, Kochi, Muscat, Mumbai, Colombo, Milan, and Moscow.
Oman Air has also played a key role in relief efforts. Muscat International Airport became a transit hub for passengers unable to depart from the UAE due to airspace closures. Over the past week, the airline operated nearly 80 extra flights and helped more than 97,000 passengers reach home safely, according to a statement. Oman Air said additional flights and bus services are being offered to support those crossing the land border from the UAE. While most of the airline’s international network is operating as planned, flights to and from Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Copenhagen, Baghdad, and Khasab remain cancelled from 9–15 March.
Emirates has restarted limited operations and expects to resume full capacity in the coming days. On Thursday, the airline carried approximately 30,000 passengers out of Dubai and said safety and operational requirements remain a priority. Etihad Airways also resumed a limited schedule from its Abu Dhabi hub, with over 70 destinations planned between 6 and 19 March.
Other airlines have announced partial resumptions. Air Arabia is operating a limited number of flights from Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah. Air India and Air India Express will run scheduled services to Jeddah and Muscat on 10 March, while British Airways and Finnair are arranging special flights from Muscat for stranded passengers.
However, some carriers continue to restrict operations. Gulf Air remains suspended pending airspace clearance, Wizz Air has halted flights to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman until 15 March, and Turkish Airlines has cancelled flights to Bahrain, Dammam, Riyadh, and multiple other destinations. European carriers including Air France, KLM, and Lufthansa Group airlines have adjusted or suspended flights across the region, while Air Canada and Garuda Indonesia have temporarily suspended services to Dubai, Tel Aviv, and Doha.
Airline officials emphasised that flight schedules remain subject to change as regional airspace gradually reopens, with safety and operational readiness guiding all decisions.
