UAE budget carriers flydubai and Air Arabia have led the phased return of foreign airlines to Doha’s Hamad International Airport, as Qatar’s airspace gradually reopens to commercial traffic following months of closure linked to the regional conflict, Gulf News reported on April 30.
flydubai resumed services to Doha on April 21, followed by Sharjah-based Air Arabia on April 22, according to operational updates issued by Hamad International Airport (HIA) and the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA). Oman Air, Royal Jordanian, Tarco Aviation and US-Bangla Airlines restarted flights on April 23, with Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Middle East Airlines and Nepal Airlines following on April 26.
Sudan’s Badr Airlines and Syrian Air resumed operations on April 27, while EgyptAir and Himalaya Airlines restarted services on April 28. Bahrain’s Gulf Air is scheduled to return on May 1, Ethiopian Airlines on May 4 and Afghanistan’s Kam Air on May 16. Royal Air Maroc is set to resume Doha flights on July 1.
Operations are running through a dedicated air corridor established by the QCAA to ensure the safe and orderly movement of aircraft as Qatari airspace returns to normal use. HIA said schedules remain subject to change and that capacity can only be raised in stages to maintain stable operations.
“Additional flights are being introduced, airline partners are gradually resuming operations, and airport services continue to support smooth passenger flow,” the airport said in a statement carried by Gulf News.
The reopening follows a near two-month suspension of most commercial activity at HIA, the main hub for Qatar Airways, after Qatari airspace was closed in early March in response to the wider Iran-Israel-US conflict. Iranian strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG complex on March 18 also damaged regional energy infrastructure, compounding pressure on Doha’s logistics hubs.
Indian carriers Air India, Air India Express and IndiGo are due to restart full operations from Hamad International on May 1, restoring connectivity between Doha and major Indian metro hubs, NewsX reported, citing guidance from the Indian Embassy in Doha.
Hamad International handled 54.3mn passengers in 2025, with August recording more than 5mn travellers, according to figures cited by Euronews. The airport recorded 282,975 aircraft movements last year before the regional crisis disrupted operations.
HIA has advised passengers to confirm bookings directly with their carriers, arrive at least three hours before departure and use online check-in and self-service facilities to reduce queueing.