Qatar Airways has joined the list of airlines canceling flights in May amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The conflict, which began in late February, has led to airspace restrictions across the Gulf region, prompting airlines to adjust their flight schedules. Iran’s blockade of the vital Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for global oil and gas trade, has further exacerbated the situation, causing a surge in jet fuel prices worldwide.
Amid concerns about long-term jet fuel supply, a total of 18 airlines have announced flight cancellations, resulting in the removal of 13,000 flights from May schedules globally, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. Qatar Airways is the latest carrier to cut routes, with services to 22 cities suspended for May and beyond.
Qatar Airways has halted flights from Doha Hamad International Airport to several European destinations, including Malta, Sarajevo, Sofia, and Venice. The airline is expected to resume flights to Malta, Sofia, and Venice in September as it navigates the ongoing jet fuel crisis.
Furthermore, Qatar Airways is not currently operating flights from its hub to various destinations, including Canberra, Cebu, Djibouti, Kano, Kigali, Mogadishu, Nagpur, and Zanzibar. Approximately half of these routes are anticipated to resume in September, following the conclusion of the busy summer travel season.
The airline has been significantly impacted by airspace closures resulting from drone and missile strikes in the region. In addition to the aforementioned destinations, Qatar Airways has suspended flights to several other cities, including Aleppo, Gassim, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, Mashhad, Neom Bay, Shiraz, Tabuk, Taif, Tehran, and Yanbu, with airspace closures affecting routes to three cities in Iran.
While some of the suspended routes are set to resume in September, a total of 22 routes have been affected by the ongoing disruptions. In a positive development for the aviation industry, Qatar Airways has announced the resumption of select routes and the return of its Airbus A380s next month, following a period of grounding. The airline is gradually restoring its network, including the reintroduction of double-daily passenger flights to Abu Dhabi.
Looking ahead, Qatar Airways plans to expand its international flight network to over 150 destinations starting from June 16, 2026, in time for the summer holidays, aiming to connect more passengers to global destinations.
