Qatar Airways to operate relief flights from Muscat and Riyadh

Qatar Airways Launches Emergency Flights from Muscat and Riyadh Amid Regional Tensions

Due to the escalating US-Israel and Iran conflict, Qatar Airways has announced the commencement of limited relief flights from Muscat and Riyadh beginning on Thursday, 5 March. These flights aim to assist travelers who have been unable to move due to ongoing disruptions in the region.

The airspace of the affected countries remains closed, with the next update on when normal operations will resume set for 9 am local time (7 am CET) on Friday, 6 March. Qatar Airways will be reaching out directly to passengers to provide details about the available flights and to confirm their travel plans.

Flights departing from Muscat, Oman—which is roughly a 10-hour drive from Doha—will connect to several European cities, including London Heathrow, Berlin, Copenhagen, Madrid, Rome, and Amsterdam. Separately, the airline will also operate flights from Riyadh to Frankfurt. Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, is approximately a seven-hour drive from Doha.

Passengers are encouraged to keep their contact information current on the Qatar Airways website and app to ensure they receive updates and instructions as soon as the flights are confirmed. British Airways has also launched special flights from Muscat for customers with existing bookings in the UAE and Oman, though all flights scheduled for 5, 6, and 7 March are already booked.

Meanwhile, the UAE began operating exceptional flights in the afternoon of 2 March to aid stranded passengers. According to the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority, around 17,500 individuals left the country via 60 special flights between 2 and 3 March.

Etihad Airways has stated that regular scheduled flights remain suspended until 6 am local time (3 am CET) on 6 March. Emirates has extended its suspension until 11:59 pm local time (8:59 pm CET) on 7 March.

Virgin Atlantic has resumed its scheduled flights between Dubai and London Heathrow, with the first departure on 4 March. Additional airlines, such as flydubai, Air India, and S7 Airlines from Russia, have also begun operating some routes.