Dubai, March 7: Flight operations across the Gulf are slowly resuming as carriers attempt to navigate the impact of the ongoing West Asia crisis. While Emirates and Etihad have restarted restricted schedules from their respective hubs, several nations including Qatar, Bahrain, Iran, and Iraq continue to maintain varying levels of airspace restrictions.
In a recent communication, Qatar Airways asserted that it would only operate limited flights to Hamad International Airport from select European and Asian cities starting March 8. The airline declared that these services do not represent a full resumption of commercial operations and are restricted to passengers ending their journey in Doha. A further status update is expected by Sunday morning as authorities evaluate the safety of the regional corridors.
Emirates officials stated that they have resumed a reduced schedule covering approximately 82 destinations. “Emirates continues to monitor the situation, and we will develop our operational schedule accordingly,” the carrier maintained. Meanwhile, other regional players like Saudia have extended cancellations to eight major cities, and Oman Air has suspended several flights through March 11.
Aviation experts noted that Muscat has emerged as a vital hub for rerouted traffic while scheduled services remain volatile. Carriers such as flydubai and Air Arabia have also joined the effort to restore limited connectivity. Airline representatives expressed regret over the inconvenience, affirming that the current circumstances remain beyond their control while they work to ensure the well-being of all passengers and crew.
