Qatar has partially reopened its airspace, allowing evacuation and cargo flights to resume, as the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran continues into its seventh day.
The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announced the limited opening, stating that flights will operate through designated navigational contingency routes with limited operational capacity, in coordination with the Qatari armed forces.
The move comes days after Iranian missile and drone strikes forced the country to ground all flights, with the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority saying the partial reopening covers only a narrow category of flights designated for passenger evacuation and air cargo services.
Flight Operations
Qatar Airways intends to operate repatriation flights on 07 March, departing Hamad International Airport to several European airports, including London, Paris, and Rome, with priority given to stranded passengers with families, elderly passengers, and those with urgent medical and compassionate travel needs.
Passengers with confirmed bookings are urged to follow updates from their airlines directly before travelling to the airport, as scheduled commercial flights to and from Doha remain suspended until a further official announcement is made.
Regional Impact
The Gulf country has been repeatedly struck by Iranian missiles and drones throughout the conflict, forcing the country to activate its air force and use interceptors to defend its territory, with Qatar’s Ministry of Defence confirming the country had been struck by 14 ballistic missiles and four drones fired from Iran on Thursday.
Across the Gulf, airports and airlines have been scrambling to manage the fallout from nearly a week of Iranian missile and drone barrages, with Emirates airline operating a reduced schedule and carrying approximately 30,000 passengers out of Dubai on Friday alone.
Dubai international airport, the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, was evacuated on Sunday following Iranian strikes and has recorded close to 4,000 flight cancellations since Monday, while Abu Dhabi’s Zayed international airport has seen more than 1,000 cancellations and continues to operate at limited capacity.
Humanitarian Efforts
Kuwait, also impacted by Iranian strikes, saw its airport undergo sustained physical damage in drone strikes, leaving some workers with minor injuries, and its airspace remains fully closed to commercial traffic, with Kuwait Airways rerouting citizens with prior bookings through Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
An estimated 23,000 flights have been cancelled since late February, according to analytics firm Cirium, as the region continues to feel the effects of the ongoing conflict.
Source: Al Jazeera
