Kamal Ghorui
The regional tensions in the Gulf show no signs of winding down as the Iran-US-Israel conflict continues to persist. Along with affecting global trade and lives, the geopolitical situation has affected one of the most vital sectors in the Middle East, the airways. Middle Eastern carriers hold a vital position in the international air routes and their disruption ever since the beginning of the conflict has impacted air travel to most parts of the world. While limited flights had been resumed to and from the region, a recent announcement has sent all business travellers and holiday tourists into shock. Qatar Airways announced an adjustment in its international flight network as it continues to struggle with airspace restrictions. The Doha-based carrier suspended services to 12 international destinations across Asia and Europe. However, it reinstated flights to Kolkata (CCU) as it maintains a limited operational schedule with the continuing closure of the Qatari airspace.
The twelve suspended destinations
The airline’s decision is a reflection of both operational constraints and prioritisation of essential routes. Among the destinations currently suspended are a dozen high-profile destinations that travellers traditionally used to connect to and from the Middle East:
Asia:
- Ahmedabad (AMD)- India
- Amritsar (ATQ)- India
- Seoul (ICN)- South Korea
- Tokyo (NRT/HND)- Japan
Europe:
- Birmingham (BHX)- United Kingdom
- Copenhagen (CPH)- Denmark
- Dublin (DUB)- Ireland
- Moscow (SVO)- Russia
- Munich (MUC)- Germany
- Prague (PRG)- Czech Republic
- Warsaw (WAW)- Poland
- Zurich (ZRH)- Switzerland
For travellers in Japan, the suspensions reduce options for one-stop connections to Europe, the Middle East and Africa where Doha served as a key hub. Similarly, for Russian travellers who have historically opted for Qatar Airways for connectivity to Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the changes bring travel troubles.
Kolkata added to the network
In contrast to the suspensions, the carrier has resumed its flight services between Doha and Kolkata (CCU). The services to the destination resumed on March 22, 2026, providing a much-awaited relief to East Indian travellers and beyond.
Booking flexibility for passengers
With major destinations suspended from the route or disrupted due to the limited operations, Qatar Airways has implemented flexible travel options for affected passengers. According to the airline’s official travel alerts:
- Passengers holding confirmed bookings on affected flights can opt for complimentary date changes
- Those unable to travel can choose refunds for the unused ticket value
- Travel agents are encouraged to refer to passenger guidelines for rebooking and handline disruptions
