Qatar has announced the partial reopening of its airspace following a week of closures as the country dealt with incoming drones and missiles from Iran.
Just before midnight on Friday, 6 March, the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) announced the news on X, saying the reopening would initially be for services to help stranded passengers leave the country.
“Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) announces the partial resumption of air navigation in the State of Qatar, through designated navigational contingency routes with limited operational capacity, in full coordination with the Qatari Armed Forces and the relevant authorities in the State,” a statement said.
“This phase includes the operation of a limited number of flights designated for passenger evacuation, in addition to the operation of air cargo flights, in light of the current circumstances in the region, and in a manner that ensures the continued provision of essential air services.”
It added that it has been working closely with state authorities to ensure the safety and security of all passengers, and is continuously monitoring developments.
The flights will initially only operate for passengers who have been stranded since the strikes started, with confirmed bookings from their respective airlines. Regular flight schedules are yet to resume. More information on when that is likely to happen will be announced on Sunday, 8 March at 9am local time.
Following the announcement, Qatar Airways, the country’s national carrier, announced it would begin operating repatriation flights to a select number of destinations from Saturday, 7 March, including London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Madrid (MAD), Rome (FCO), and Frankfurt (FRA).
“Priority on these flights was given to stranded passengers with families, elderly passengers, and those with urgent medical and compassionate travel needs,” the airline said in a statement. “Each flight was pre-allocated by Qatar Airways directly to such affected passengers. These flights do not constitute a confirmation of resumption of scheduled commercial operations.”
The airline is requesting that passengers do not go to the airport unless they have received a confirmation from them that they have a seat on one of these flights, and said all passengers who do have been contacted directly. All passengers should ensure their contact details are up to date.
“We are working around the clock to organize additional relief flights where operationally possible and will share further updates as soon as they are confirmed,” it said.
