Gulf Airlines Gradually Resume Flights After Regional Airspace Reopens

Major Gulf airlines have begun restoring limited flight operations after parts of Middle Eastern airspace reopened following several days of disruption caused by military escalation in the region.

Emirates and Etihad Airways resumed selected services, while Qatar Airways restarted a restricted schedule to and from Doha. The moves come after widespread airspace closures triggered by hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran disrupted major international aviation routes and forced thousands of flights to be canceled or diverted.

Airlines said operations remain limited and subject to strict safety checks as authorities continue to review the situation.

Qatar Airways said flights are currently operating only for passengers whose final destination is Doha, reflecting continuing restrictions in regional airspace even as some routes reopen.

Emirates also announced that transit passengers would be accepted in Dubai only if their onward connections are confirmed to be operating.

“Emirates continues to monitor the situation, and we will develop our operational schedule accordingly,” the airline said in a statement.

Etihad Airways said it resumed a limited commercial schedule to selected destinations on March 6 after completing safety reviews in coordination with authorities.

“The decision has been taken in coordination with relevant authorities following extensive safety and security assessments. Etihad continues to monitor the situation closely and will only operate flights once all safety criteria are met,” the airline said.

The disruption has had a major impact on the region’s largest aviation hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. Together, the three airports typically handle around 90,000 passengers per day, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Industry analysts say the length of the disruption will determine the overall financial impact on airlines, airports and related sectors such as tourism and aircraft leasing.

Ratings agency Fitch said the aviation sector has already experienced significant operational challenges following the strikes carried out on Feb. 28 and Iran’s subsequent retaliation across the region.

More than 15,000 flights were canceled across seven major regional airports between Feb. 28 and March 5, affecting more than 1.5 million passengers, according to the agency. Some aircraft were forced to divert to European airports as airlines sought alternative routes.

Airlines with hubs in countries directly affected by the airspace closures, particularly in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, face the largest revenue risks. Other international carriers have also been affected by suspended routes and longer flight paths required to avoid restricted areas.

Extended travel routes have increased operational costs for many airlines. Carriers are facing higher fuel consumption, additional technical stops and increased expenses related to crew overtime, accommodation and ground handling.

Passenger compensation is expected to remain limited because the disruption stems from conflict outside airline control. However, airlines may still need to provide meals, accommodation, refunds or travel vouchers for travelers whose flights were canceled.

At the same time, disruption often leads to higher ticket prices on affected routes, which may help airlines recover part of the financial losses caused by canceled services and operational challenges.