Gulf states reopen airspace and resume flight operations
Several Persian Gulf states, including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, have reopened their airspace and resumed operations at some of the world’s busiest airports after halting flights as Iran launched air strikes at a US base in Qatar.
Qatar barred flights from entering its skies as it prepared for Tehran’s attack. Neighbors Bahrain, the UAE and Kuwait followed swiftly as a precautionary measure.
The disruptions lasted several hours and resulted in dozens of aircraft diverting from major hub cities Dubai and Doha.
Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, said that due to “the recent regional situation, a number of Emirates flights were rerouted enroute to Dubai on Monday, but there were no diversions. After a thorough and careful risk assessment, Emirates will continue to operate flights as scheduled, using flight paths well distanced from conflict areas.”
Qatar Airways confirmed it reinstated flights Tuesday in a press release and said the airline deployed extra ground staff at Hamad International Airport to assist in resuming operations.
Qatar Airways was most impacted by the disruptions at Doha airport, where closures lasted the longest, as it operates more than 80 per cent of flights at the hub, according to ch-aviation, which compiles industry data. The Gulf airspace closures mark the first time in 20 months of conflict in the region that the aviation disruptions have reached the energy-rich states.
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Published on June 24, 2025
