Qatar Airways to operate relief flights from Muscat and Riyadh
Qatar Airways to operate relief flights from Muscat and Riyadh
Qatar Airways announced it will launch limited relief flights from Muscat and Riyadh starting Thursday, 5 March, to assist passengers stranded due to the ongoing tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran. The airspace in the region remains closed, with the next update on resuming regular operations expected at 9 am local time (7 am CET) on Friday, 6 March.
Passengers should remain alert, as the airline plans to notify individuals directly about these special services. Travelers are advised not to head to the airport without prior confirmation. Flights departing from Muscat, Oman—approximately a 10-hour drive from Doha—will connect to major European destinations such as London Heathrow, Berlin, Copenhagen, Madrid, Rome, and Amsterdam.
Expanded flight network from Riyadh
In addition to Muscat, Qatar Airways will also operate flights from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Frankfurt. Riyadh is roughly a seven-hour drive from Doha. The airline emphasized the importance of keeping contact details current on its website and app to receive real-time updates and instructions as the situation evolves.
Other carriers respond to the crisis
Meanwhile, British Airways is running special flights from Muscat for passengers with existing bookings in the UAE or Oman. Flights on 5, 6, and 7 March are already fully booked. The UAE initiated emergency departures on 2 March, with around 17,500 people evacuated via 60 dedicated flights between 2 and 3 March, according to the General Civil Aviation Authority.
“We are contacting passengers directly to ensure they are aware of their assigned flights.”
Etihad Airways stated that regular flights remain suspended until 6 am local time (3 am CET) on 6 March, while Emirates extended its suspension until 11:59 pm local time (8:59 pm CET) on 7 March. Virgin Atlantic has resumed scheduled services between Dubai and London Heathrow, with the first departure on 4 March. flydubai, Air India, and S7 Airlines from Russia have also reinstated some of their routes.
