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Qatar’s airspace was reopened in the early hours of Tuesday morning, after a temporary suspension of air traffic ahead of Iran firing missiles at a US airbase in Al Udeid.
All flights to and from the country were temporarily paused on Monday night, causing mid-flight diversions and leaving many passengers stranded at Doha’s busy Hamad International Airport. The closure was part of a “set of precautionary measures that were taken based on the developments in the region,” the Qatari Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
With Qatar’s airspace now open, officials have announced flights can resume as normal. Here’s what to know.
Qatar Airways warns of ‘significant delays’
However, the closure is still having a knock-on effect on flights, as dozens of aircraft were diverted to airports across the region on Monday, and many more flights delayed or canceled.
AirNav Radar reported that 91 flights traveling toward Doha were diverted to nearby regional airports including Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Bahrain and Dammam.
On Tuesday, Qatar Airways said it was working to resume operations as quickly as possible, but said passengers should expect “significant delays” and warned of possible disruptions until June 26. Customers with upcoming flights can change their travel dates without fees until July 15, 2025; cancellation fees are being waived for those who no longer wish to travel and would like to receive a refund of the unused value of their tickets.
“Our focus at this time is to help our passengers return home or reach their onward journey safely and smoothly,” the airline said in a statement. “We are working tirelessly with government stakeholders and the relevant authorities to restore operations as quickly as possible. We have also deployed additional ground staff at Hamad International Airport and other key airports to assist affected passengers by minimizing disruptions and offering the utmost care and support to all customers.”
“As operations resume, we anticipate significant delays to our flight schedule,” the airline added. “We would advise passengers to check qatarairways.com or the Qatar Airways mobile application ahead of travel. The safety of our passengers and crew is the first and highest priority at all times.”
What is the latest travel advice for Qatar?
On Monday, both the US and British authorities urged citizens in Qatar to “shelter in place until further notice,” however, this warning has now been lifted.
The US Department of State’s travel advisory for Qatar remains at Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. “Individuals with travel plans should closely monitor their flight status with their airlines and continue to follow updates from the Government of Qatar and local news regarding the airspace situation,” says the US Embassy in Qatar.
“The US has now lifted the advice to shelter in place, issued to its citizens on 23 June,” the UK Government’s latest advice says. “Following interceptions of Iranian missiles fired towards Qatar, the FCDO [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] has been in touch with the local authorities and international partners, and reviewed the security situation. British nationals do not need to shelter in place and should continue to follow advice from the local authorities, check the FCDO travel advice page and sign up for alerts.”
Which other airspaces are closed in the Middle East?
Iran: Iran’s airspace remains closed “indefinitely.”
Israel: Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport remains closed, and inbound flights to Israel are currently suspended. The airspace is partially open; limited outbound flights resumed on Monday with restrictions in place.
Iraq: Iraq’s airspace is closed, with the exception of flights from Basra International Airport, which has resumed flights during daylight hours.
This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveler Middle East. This is a developing news story and will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
