After six days of airspace disruptions caused by the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, Gulf carriers are gradually resuming operations. Etihad Airways announced it is restarting a limited flight schedule from Abu Dhabi, while Qatar Airways will operate a relief corridor from Doha to several European destinations.

Emirates has said it expects to return to full flight capacity in the coming days. Following a partial reopening of regional airspace, the Dubai-based airline has operated a reduced schedule, carrying around 30,000 passengers from Dubai on Thursday. By Saturday, Emirates will run 106 daily return flights to 83 destinations, covering nearly 60% of its network.

“The airline anticipates a return to 100% of its network within the coming days, subject to airspace availability and the fulfilment of all operational requirements,” Emirates said in a statement on Friday. “Safety, as ever, remains paramount as is our duty of care.” Passengers with earlier bookings are being accommodated as a priority. In high-demand markets, Emirates has scaled up operations, including 11 daily flights to the UK across five airports, 22 daily flights to nine Indian destinations, and service to seven US cities.

Dubai Airports reported facilitating more than 1,140 flights at Dubai International and Dubai World Central over the past 84 hours, providing 105,000 outbound seats to over 80 countries between 2-5 March.

Etihad Airways will also resume flights to more than 70 destinations between 6 and 19 March, allowing previously booked passengers and new travelers to fly, provided safety requirements are met.

Qatar Airways announced that, following approval from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, it will operate repatriation flights from Hamad International Airport to London, Paris, Madrid, Rome, and Frankfurt. Priority on these flights has been given to stranded passengers, elderly travelers, families, and those with urgent medical needs.

Other airlines are adjusting operations amid ongoing restrictions. British Airways has scheduled flights from Muscat to London for existing customers, while Finnair plans special flights from Muscat to Helsinki to transport around 1,200 passengers in Dubai. Virgin Atlantic resumed flights from Dubai and Riyadh to London Heathrow, and Air Arabia has restarted limited services to destinations including Austria, Egypt, India, Italy, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.

Many carriers continue to face airspace closures. Oman Air has cancelled flights to multiple Gulf and Middle Eastern destinations until 8 March. Saudia, Wizz Air, Turkish Airlines, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa Group, Delta, American Airlines, and Air Canada have also suspended or adjusted flights across the region.

Chinese airlines, including Air China and China Southern, are resuming flights to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE and assisting with evacuations. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that “the situation in the Middle East remains complex and severe, with considerable uncertainty,” following the transport of 300 citizens from Dubai on Wednesday.

Ministry of Interior Qatar has announced that entry visas for travellers stranded in the country due to the ongoing airspace closure will be automatically extended for one month without additional fees.

The measure applies to all visa categories and will be processed electronically, with no action required from affected visitors. Authorities said further extensions could be introduced depending on how the situation develops.

However, travellers whose visas expired before 28 February, when Iran’s retaliatory strikes began and regional tensions escalated, will still be required to pay any overstay fines accumulated before that date.

Qatar allows citizens of 102 countries to obtain a free visa on arrival, with the permitted length of stay varying by nationality. Most European passport holders are eligible for stays of up to 90 days, while others receive a 30-day visa that can be extended for an additional 30 days.

The country’s airspace was closed shortly after noon local time on 28 February, according to the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority. Since then, there have been no commercial flights operating in or out of the country.

Qatar Airways has been issuing daily updates confirming the continued suspension of services, with announcements typically made before 9 a.m. local time. The airline said the next update is expected on 4 March.

Passengers holding bookings with Qatar Airways for travel between 28 February and 10 March 2026 can reschedule their trips within 14 days of their original departure date or request a full refund. The airline said changes can be made through its website or mobile app and urged only those travelling within the next 48 hours to contact customer service directly due to high call volumes.

While the United Arab Emirates has started operating limited exceptional flights to repatriate stranded passengers, Qatar has not yet resumed any inbound or outbound commercial operations.

The disruption has also affected travel in Southeast Asia. In Thailand, authorities said visit visas would be extended for tourists unable to leave due to flight cancellations to the Middle East. At Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, 47 flights have been cancelled, along with 36 flights to and from Phuket.

Airlines impacted include Air Arabia, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air and Kuwait Airways.

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports said hotels have been asked to offer discounted rates to affected visitors as authorities work to ease the disruption.