Quick summary
Qatar Airways has resumed limited flights to India as of March 18, 2026, following 21,000+ flight cancellations across West Asia since February 28 when U.S./Israeli strikes on Iran triggered airspace closures in Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. Travelers on Asia-Europe and Asia-North America routes via Gulf hubs face 2–4 hour longer flight times, 10–15% higher fares, and severely reduced capacity as airlines reroute around closed airspace.
The resumption covers only select India routes with limited frequency — most Gulf hub operations remain disrupted. Jet fuel prices hit $173 per barrel in early March, prompting surcharges from major carriers including Qantas, Cathay Pacific, and Air India, which alone reported Rs 570 crore in losses from 1,770 cancellations.
West Asia’s escalating conflict has paralyzed the world’s busiest air corridor between Asia and Europe. What began on February 28 with military strikes has cascaded into the largest airspace closure since the 2020 U.S.-Iran crisis — but on a scale three times larger.
Qatar Airways‘ partial India resumption offers a narrow lifeline for travelers stranded by the closure of Doha, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi hubs. The airline is operating a fraction of its pre-conflict schedule, prioritizing repatriation and essential travel. Slots remain scarce.
Airlines flying the East-West corridor now face a brutal choice: reroute south via Africa, adding 90–120 minutes to flights like Delhi-New York, or swing east through Central Asia, burning 15–20% more fuel. Both options cost passengers time and money. A Delhi-London one-way ticket that cost Rs 70,000 in February now exceeds Rs 1 lakh, with premium cabins reaching Rs 5–9 lakh as war-risk insurance premiums stack onto already-inflated fuel surcharges.
European carriers including Air France, KLM, and Lufthansa suspended all West Asia flights for at least a week post-February 28. Gulf carriers, which handle 40% of Asia-Europe traffic, saw capacity collapse overnight. Indian carriers alone cancelled 1,770 flights in the first two weeks, stranding tens of thousands.
How the airspace closure reshapes Asia travel
Seven countries closed their airspace simultaneously on February 28 following the strikes: Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. The closure severed the shortest route between Asia and Europe — a corridor that carries 2 million passengers monthly during peak season.
Rerouting forces airlines into longer, costlier paths. A typical Delhi-New York nonstop that took 17 hours now runs closer to 22 hours as pilots avoid the entire Middle East. Fuel burn rises proportionally, and airlines pass the cost directly to passengers through surcharges ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 35,000 per ticket.
The January 2020 U.S.-Iran crisis offers a precedent: airspace closed for days, 1,800 flights cancelled, fares rose 10–20% before normalizing within weeks. This time, the scale is larger and the timeline uncertain. Over 21,000 cancellations have been logged globally, with no clear reopening date for the affected airspace.
Jet fuel prices surged to $173 per barrel by early March 2026, the highest level since mid-2024. Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand, and Air India all announced fuel surcharges within 10 days of the conflict’s escalation. Indian carriers reported combined losses of Rs 570 crore from cancellations alone — a figure that excludes rerouting costs and lost revenue from reduced capacity.
| Metric | Pre-conflict | Current | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi-London flight time | 9 hours | 11–12 hours | +2–3 hours |
| Delhi-New York flight time | 17 hours | 22 hours | +5 hours |
| Delhi-London one-way fare | Rs 70,000 | Rs 1 lakh+ | +43% |
| Jet fuel price | $145/barrel | $173/barrel | +19% |
| Global cancellations | 0 | 21,000+ | Ongoing |
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What the partial resumption actually means
Qatar Airways has not published a full schedule of resumed India routes. The airline is operating on a case-by-case basis, prioritizing repatriation flights and essential travel. Passengers with existing bookings should check the airline’s website or contact the call center directly — automated rebooking systems are overwhelmed.
The broader Gulf hub network remains severely constrained. Emirates and Etihad have not announced resumption timelines for their Dubai and Abu Dhabi hubs, which together handle more Asia-Europe traffic than Doha. European carriers are routing around the region entirely, adding capacity on southern routes via Africa but at significantly higher fares.
For travelers, the math is stark: fewer seats, longer flights, higher costs. The impact of airspace closures on Asia flights compounds existing constraints from Russia’s airspace restrictions, which have been in place since 2022 for most Western carriers. Airlines now face a double squeeze — unable to fly the northern route over Russia or the central route through the Middle East.
What to do if you have a booking
Gulf hub connections are high-risk through at least late March — here is the priority order for protecting your trip.
- Existing Qatar Airways bookings to/from India: Call the airline immediately at +974 4023 0000 (Doha) or your local office. Automated rebooking is not processing most cases. Request a direct flight or reroute via a European hub if available. Do not wait for the airline to contact you.
- Bookings via Dubai or Abu Dhabi hubs: Emirates and Etihad have not resumed operations. Request a full refund or reroute to a non-Gulf carrier. EU261 and UK261 cover refunds for cancellations — force majeure does not void your right to a refund, only compensation.
- Planning new Asia-Europe travel: Avoid Gulf hubs entirely until airspace reopens. Book direct flights or route via Singapore, Bangkok, or Istanbul. Fares are 10–15% higher but connections are reliable. Check route options from Europe for alternatives.
- U.S./Canada to India: Nonstop flights from New York, Newark, Toronto, and San Francisco to Delhi remain operational. Fares are elevated but avoid connection risk. If you must connect, use European hubs (Frankfurt, Paris, London) — not Gulf hubs.
Watch: ICAO’s airspace safety assessment is expected late March 2026. If cleared, full Gulf hub resumption could restore 70% capacity within 1–2 weeks. If delayed, expect prolonged rerouting and 20% higher fares through Q2.
Questions? Answers.
Can I get a refund if my Gulf hub flight was cancelled?
Yes. EU261 and UK261 require full refunds for cancellations regardless of cause — force majeure voids compensation but not refunds. U.S. DOT and Canadian APPR mandate refunds for cancellations. Australian ACL and New Zealand CCCFA also require refunds. Contact your airline directly and request a refund to original payment method, not a voucher.
How long will the airspace closures last?
No official timeline has been published. The January 2020 U.S.-Iran crisis saw airspace reopen within days, but this conflict involves seven countries and no ceasefire negotiations are public. ICAO’s late March assessment will signal whether partial reopening is feasible. Until then, assume closures remain in effect.
Are direct flights to Asia still operating normally?
Direct flights from Europe, North America, and Australasia to Asia that do not route through West Asia remain operational. Examples: London-Singapore, New York-Delhi, Sydney-Bangkok. These flights face higher fares due to increased demand but are not subject to rerouting delays. Gulf hub connections are the primary disruption point.
Should I cancel my April trip to Asia via a Gulf hub?
If your booking routes through Doha, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi, contact your airline now to reroute or request a refund. Do not assume operations will normalize by April — the conflict timeline is uncertain. If you can reroute via a European or Southeast Asian hub, do so. If not, consider postponing until airspace reopens.
