Gulf Airlines Resume Limited Flight Operations Amid Regional Airspace Disruptions

New Delhi: Major Gulf carriers, including Emirates and Etihad Airways, have resumed limited flight operations from Saturday after widespread regional airspace closures disrupted aviation services across West Asia. Flights are gradually returning, but many services remain restricted and are mainly operating as relief corridors for stranded passengers.

In a statement, Emirates said it has restarted operations and passengers with confirmed bookings for Saturday afternoon flights can proceed to the airport. This also applies to travelers transiting through Dubai, provided their connecting flights are operating.

The airline added that it is closely monitoring the situation and will adjust its operational schedule accordingly. “The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority, and there will be no compromise on that,” the airline said, while thanking customers for their patience and understanding.

Meanwhile, Qatar Airways announced that it will operate limited flights to Doha. The airline stated that regular operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatar’s airspace, and services will fully resume only after the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirms that the airspace is safe to reopen.

Following temporary clearance for safe operating corridors, Qatar Airways plans to operate special flights on March 8 from Hamad International Airport to destinations including London, Paris, Madrid, Rome, Frankfurt, and Bangkok. These flights are intended only for passengers whose final destination is Doha.

Passengers have been advised not to travel to the airport unless they hold a valid confirmed ticket. The airline apologized for the inconvenience caused by circumstances beyond its control and reiterated that passenger and crew safety remains the highest priority.

At the same time, Oman Air announced cancellations of several flights between March 9 and March 11 due to ongoing regional airspace closures. Routes affected include flights to and from Amman, Dubai, Manama, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait City, Copenhagen, Baghdad, and Khasab.

According to airline updates, Emirates has restarted a reduced schedule to around 82–83 destinations and aims to restore full capacity soon. Etihad Airways has also resumed limited services from Abu Dhabi to destinations across Asia, Europe, and North America.

Meanwhile, flydubai and Air Arabia have restarted restricted operations, while Saudi Arabia has extended flight cancellations to several cities including Dubai and Doha.

Airspace restrictions continue across Qatar, Bahrain, Iran, and Iraq, with Muscat emerging as a key transit hub for rerouted services.

Flight disruptions persist amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, which has led to widespread airspace closures and significantly impacted aviation operations throughout the region.