Qatari authorities announced a partial reopening of their airspace after a temporary closure amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Qatar Airways is preparing special evacuation flights for stranded passengers to Europe.
On Friday, 6 Mar 2024 GMT+7, the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announced it would partially reopen its airspace for a limited number of flights via designated emergency routes, operating with limited capacity. This follows a temporary closure due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, stemming from Iranian missile and drone retaliations after attacks by the United States and Israel.
Initially, only a limited number of flights will be allowed, focusing on evacuating stranded passengers and air cargo transport.
Qatar Airways stated that, once safe flight paths are confirmed, evacuation flights will begin on 7 March to major European cities including London, Paris, Madrid, Rome, and Frankfurt.
The airline added that these flights will prioritize vulnerable passengers, such as families stranded in Qatar, elderly travelers, and those with urgent medical needs.
Meanwhile, Hamad International Airport, Qatar’s main airport, confirmed that on Saturday, 7 March, it would operate a limited number of flights. These flights will be for evacuating stranded passengers and cargo transport. Further flight operations in subsequent days will depend on ongoing security assessments.
Earlier, the Qatar Ministry of Defense revealed that on Friday, the country was targeted by 10 Iranian drones. Qatar’s military intercepted nine, with one drone crashing in an uninhabited area. No casualties or injuries were reported.
On the previous Tuesday, Qatar also reported that Hamad International Airport had been targeted by Iranian attacks, but all threats were successfully intercepted by defense systems.
The escalating conflict in the Middle East has impacted the usually stable Persian Gulf region, causing travel uncertainty for many tourists following attacks and temporary airspace closures.
. Source:channelnewsasia
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