Qatar Airways announces ‘limited’ flights to and from Doha

Qatar Airways announced a limited flight schedule to and from Doha, Qatar, effective March 18th through March 28th, 2026. The airline cited the closure of Qatari airspace due to regional instability caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran as the reason for the disruption. Flights will operate to dozens of destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North and South America, and the Asia Pacific. The airline stated that it will resume full operations once Qatari airspace is fully reopened. Air travel across the Middle East has been significantly impacted by the conflict, with some airports experiencing closures and flight disruptions.

Two weeks into the conflict between Israel and the US, and Iran, Doha's Souq Waqif market is beginning to recover after initially emptying due to regional attacks. Neighboring Gulf states have experienced casualties from Iranian strikes, with at least 18 deaths reported. While Qatar has been targeted, its air defenses have largely intercepted attacks, including those aimed at US military bases, resulting in minimal damage and no reported deaths within the country. The BBC's Barbara Plett Usher visited the Doha market to gauge public sentiment as the conflict enters its third week. The BBC is providing live updates on the ongoing developments.