Qatar Airways recently joined the list of airlines canceling flights in May due to ongoing challenges in the Middle East. The conflict that began in late February has led to route cancellations and adjustments in flight schedules across the Gulf region, primarily due to restricted airspace. The situation was exacerbated by Iran’s blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for about 20% of the global oil and gas supply, resulting in a global fuel shortage and surging jet fuel prices.
Amid concerns about long-term jet fuel availability, a significant number of airlines, totaling 18, have announced flight cancellations, resulting in the removal of 13,000 flights from May schedules worldwide, as reported by aviation analytics firm Cirium. Qatar Airways has now followed suit, suspending flights to 22 cities during May and beyond.
The airline has halted flights from Doha Hamad International Airport to several European destinations, including Malta, Sarajevo, Sofia, and Venice. While these routes are currently paused, it is anticipated that services to Malta, Sofia, and Venice will resume in September. Additionally, Qatar Airways is not operating flights to several other destinations from its hub, with plans to potentially reintroduce around half of these routes in September, following the peak summer holiday season.
The conflict in the Middle East, characterized by drone and missile strikes leading to airspace closures, has significantly impacted Qatar Airways, resulting in the suspension of additional routes to cities like Aleppo, Gassim, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, and others. Some of these suspended routes are expected to return in September, with a total of 22 routes currently affected by cancellations.
Despite the challenges, there is positive news for the aviation industry as Qatar Airways announces the resumption of some routes and the return of its Airbus A380s next month, following a period of grounding. The airline is progressively restoring its network across the Middle East, with plans to increase services to over 150 destinations from mid-June, aiming to connect more passengers globally during the summer season.
