Latest news with #Gulf-bound
Mint
12 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Stuck in Doha, Travelers Look for Escape After Airspace Closes
(Bloomberg) -- A few hours after an Iranian air strike on Qatar, authorities in Doha reopened the airspace over one of the busiest aviation hubs in the world. But getting passengers back on track again has proven to be more complicated. At Hamad International Airport, typically a model of calm, efficiency and quiet luxury, ground staff were overwhelmed by travelers looking for a way out after the escalating regional conflict crossed their flight plans. Hundreds of stranded customers stormed transfer desks or clogged up escalators and waiting lounges. 'Tempers were certainly flaring,' said Howard Gottlieb, 68, from Arlington, Texas, whose return flight to Dallas after a trip to Africa was canceled. 'People were beginning to yell and push. Others were simply laying down in the middle of the crowd.' The turmoil underscores the fragility of the airline industry that's been forced to make short-term adjustments to flight paths and travel schedules as it gets caught up in regional conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East. The scenes playing out at Hamad airport stand in stark contrast to the seamless, globe-spanning operations brimming with luxury service that have put superconnector hubs like Doha and Dubai on the map and turned them into aviation trend-setters. Qatar Airway Chief Executive Officer Badr Al-Meer, who previously ran the airport, is now in his second year leading the airline. The company said it provided a travel alert with details on refunds and flight change information. In nearby Dubai, operations swiftly returned to normal at Emirates because the airspace there didn't close down as completely as in Qatar. The airline, the world's biggest international carrier, said in a statement that 'passengers experienced minimal disruptions to their travel,' and that the company 'quickly activated its robust contingency and disruption plans.' The clockwork routine that's normally associated with airline operations in the Persian Gulf was upended late on Monday night, just before Iran launched a missile strike at a US air base in the country. That move prompted Qatar to suspend transits over its air space, while flights in and out of Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest hub, were also temporarily halted. Marzahn Botha, who had traveled from Athens in the afternoon, finally made it Doha after a detour to Dammam in Saudi Arabia, where the plane waited for four hours before it was cleared to continue its journey to Qatar. When passengers finally got off at the airport, 'it was crazy,' Botha said in an interview. 'The queues were so long, some people missed their flight for standing in line.' Dozens of Gulf-bound flights on several commercial airlines were diverted en route to safer airports in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, India and Belgium, including those from London and Zurich to destinations like Dubai and Qatar, based on data from aviation consultant Cirium. For Gottlieb and his wife, their path out of Doha led them via a connection through Chicago and then on to their final destination in Dallas, he said in an interview. 'I'm fortunate enough to be able to purchase other tickets,' he said. 'I still have no idea how the refund will work — but at least we got out.' --With assistance from Anthony Palazzo. More stories like this are available on
Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan resumes flights after Gulf airspace reopens
Listen to article Pakistan has resumed flight operations to the Gulf region after the reopening of airspace over Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, aviation sources confirmed on Tuesday. This development came after Trump brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran through talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday while his team, including Vice President JD Vance, held talks with Tehran, a senior White House official said. The national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), had temporarily suspended flights late on Monday due to rising tensions in the region. Read: Trump 'Unhappy' with Israel and Iran over ceasefire violations Despite the restoration of services, delays ranging from five to thirteen hours are still expected for Gulf-bound flights. A total of 32 flights, including 14 Qatar Airways services, have been cancelled, according to updated flight schedules. Additionally, 55 flights, both arrivals and departures, have experienced delays at airports in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and other cities. Although Saudi Arabia and the UAE did not close their airspace, several flights were diverted to alternative airports due to the escalating situation. Bahrain and Kuwait had resumed operations earlier, with Qatar following suit later in the night, allowing for a partial restoration of services. Earlier, PIA announced the suspension of its flight operations from Pakistan to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Dubai due to the ongoing security situation in the Gulf region. A PIA spokesperson stated that the decision to limit flight operations is a precautionary measure in response to the heightened tensions in the region. The suspension affects all scheduled flights between Pakistan and these Gulf destinations. PIA has assured that operations will resume once the situation in the region normalises. Passengers who were booked on these flights are advised to contact the PIA Call Centre for up-to-date information regarding their travel. In addition, the PIA reservation department has started rebooking affected passengers on alternate flights. The airline has apologised for any inconvenience caused by the cancellation, emphasising that the safety of its passengers is of the utmost priority.
