Qatar Airways Gets Passengers Moving Again without Reopening Doha

Qatar Airways said that it would begin a limited number of relief flights from Muscat and Riyadh to help passengers stranded by the regional conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran.

The airline still cannot operate normally from Doha. The airspace remains closed, so Qatar Airways is using nearby airports in Oman and Saudi Arabia as temporary departure points. The airline said affected passengers will be contacted directly and should not go to the airport unless instructed.

Flights from Muscat are planned to London Heathrow, Amsterdam, Rome, Madrid, Copenhagen, and Berlin. Qatar Airways also said it would operate a Riyadh-Frankfurt flight.

A temporary workaround, not a full restart

Doha is a major global transfer hub. Qatar Airways normally connects passengers through Hamad International Airport across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. When Doha is unavailable, the disruption affects far more than just local traffic.

Using Muscat and Riyadh gives Qatar Airways a way to move some passengers without waiting for Qatar’s airspace to reopen. That makes these flights important, especially for travelers who have been stuck in the region for days.

Still, the arrangement is difficult. Passengers may need long overland transfers before they can even board a flight.

Other airlines are also adjusting operations

Other airlines are making similar changes. British Airways has also been operating special flights from Muscat for customers who are already booked and currently in Oman or the UAE. Those flights filled up quickly, showing how strong demand remains for any available route out.

Across the Gulf, recovery is still uneven. Etihad said scheduled flights remained suspended until early March 6, while Emirates extended its suspension until late March 7. That shows airlines are restoring operations slowly and cautiously.

Governments shift into rescue mode

The broader disruption is also reshaping how governments and travel providers handle stranded passengers.

Indian Airlines helps bring home stranded travelers, while in the UAE, authorities said they would cover hotel stays and meal costs for affected travelers while flights return gradually, showing that the crisis is no longer only about flight cancellations but also about passenger care during a slow recovery.

Meanwhile, the US State Department faced growing pressure over how it was helping Americans leave the region as the conflict widened. Washington was ramping up charter flights from the Middle East and said it had already helped about 10,000 Americans seeking to leave. Critics said the response was too slow, with delayed evacuation planning, limited early embassy support, and unclear guidance in the first days of the crisis.

Photo by Alex MacFaul on Unsplash