Qatar closes airspace amid heightened Middle East tensions

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Qatar closes airspace amid heightened Middle East tensions

Policy

Qatar Airways | Wikipedia

By Sky Industry News

Jun 25, 2025

Over recent days, tensions in the Middle East have increased, leading to significant disruptions. Qatar has closed its airspace, citing regional circumstances and prioritizing safety for residents and visitors. Consequently, Qatar Airways flights bound for Doha are being diverted.

This decision follows advisories from the US and UK governments instructing their citizens in Qatar to shelter in place. The situation escalated after US military strikes on Iranian targets on June 21, prompting several airlines to adjust operations in the Gulf region by suspending or rerouting flights.

Iran has reiterated threats of retaliation against the US, which influenced Qatar's precautionary measure to close its airspace. Qatar hosts the largest US military base in the region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed this closure as part of a set of precautionary measures based on regional developments.

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Following the closure, Qatar Airways flights en route to Doha are diverting to alternate airports like Istanbul Airport. No arrivals are currently permitted at Doha Hamad International Airport, and departures have been suspended. Several long-haul services from Europe have changed course, with flights from London Gatwick diverting to Athens and others heading to Istanbul.

Live data shows that most widebody arrivals from Europe are now redirecting to Istanbul Airport as a temporary fallback for Qatar Airways' network. The airline has not issued a formal statement but indicated ongoing adjustments amid regional developments.

In addition to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates also closed its airspace based on observed flight paths and air traffic control audio. Bahrain and Kuwait followed suit due to security concerns linked to recent developments.

As tensions escalate, international airlines like British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air France, Finnair, American Airlines, and United Airlines have suspended flights to Gulf hubs such as Dubai, Doha, and Bahrain over the weekend as a precautionary measure.