News broke overnight that a handful of Gulf nations would diplomatically isolate Qatar. The isolation may include blocking air space vital for Qatar Airways to smoothly operate. While news is still developing and the situation could get much worse, for now there is no need to panic.
Help! I’m Traveling on Qatar This Week!
A few Award Expert clients are traveling on Qatar this week using AA miles and one reached out to me this morning about the news. Here’s what I wrote back–
While the situation is still developing, thus far only Saudi Arabia has blocked Qatar from using its airspace. Qatar has not halted any flights other than to Saudi Arabia, though I suspect flights to Egypt, the UAE, Maldives may also be suspended.
You are traveling from Frankfurt to Bangkok and even in the worst-case scenario (other Arab nations also blocking airspace), your routing may be a bit more circuitous than normal and therefore flight time may just be a bit longer than normal. You’ll love Qatar business class so much that extra time may even be appreciated.
Should the problem be worse, there will be other avenues to get you to Bangkok. JAL and Cathay Pacific award space may open at the last-minute. There are already alternate options available immediately if you would be willing to make a second stop. Whatever happens, we will get you to Bangkok on Saturday.
Keep watching the news, as will we, and should your flight plans become adversely affected we will be in touch with alternate plans. There is no need to panic at this point.
The Worst-Case Scenario
A knowledgeable reader on Lucky’s blog outlined one scenario that might truly cripple Qatar Airways.
Doha TMA is surrounded on all sides by Bahrain and Jeddah FIRs. You cannot fly to/from Doha at all without entering those airspaces. If that OVF is denied, Qatar is entirely cut off from an aviation perspective.
- TMA = Terminal Manoeuvring Area (controlled high-volume air space)
- FIR = Flight Information Region
- OVF = Overflight
In English, that means Bahrain and Saudi Arabia could theoretically cripple all Qatar Airways airspace.
Then it became a high-stakes game of chess (or chicken): would the Saudi Air Force blow up a Qatar passenger jet that ignores civil airspace restrictions?
I’m very confident in stating the answer is no. In other words, I do not view this as a credible risk.
CONCLUSION
If you’re traveling on Qatar Airways this week, watch the news but do not panic. With the situation developing, it would be foolish to change plans at this early point. Lastly, understand that these sort of diplomatic rows are not new. Thankfully, they are often resolved quickly. Let’s hope that will be the case this time as well.
Bahrain FIR includes the entire airspace above Qatar’s landmass. Banning QR from Bahrain FIR completely means banning a hypothetical Qatari domestic flight, which makes no sense since Qatar is sovereign.
“You’ll love Qatar business class so much that extra time may even be appreciated.”
You should join the marketing team for QR.
I’ve been watching QR planes on flightradar24, and if their data is accurate, they have quite a few planes over Saudi and UAE at the moment. I was wondering how flights from, say, Lagos, would get back to Doha without a big detour, but it looks like it just went straight across KSA.
It will be interesting to see if this is diplomatic bluster or something truly serious.
I am leaving KSA to LHR in ten days with Qatar Airlines. Do you think they will offer alternative partner flights? It will be so expensive to cancel and rebook now.
Hopefully they will offer you something on Royal Jordanian. Call today and see. Better to get that resolved due to particular hostility between KSA and Qatar.
Is flight from Munich via Doha to Hong Kong will be afffected ? I’m flying end June. Thanks
I’m traveling to Los Angeles via stop in Doha. Will my flight be affected? It’s already a 16 hrs flight…im guessing it’ll be around 18/19 now? that is if its not cancelled?
Sir I want to ask about the qatar airaways flight no.1189 from Jeddah to Doha on 15 June 2017. Which will be the alternate of it? Or it might be able to take its passengers? I have a ticket of it to travel but the Saudi government has banned the qatar airways? So what would be the alternate of it for the passengers of 1189 on 15 June travelling from Jeddah to Doha? I am waiting for your reply sir please reply me as early as possible because I am very panic about this situation.
لسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ Muhammad
It is too early to tell if Qatar will reach a diplomatic solution with KSA before 15 June. Have you contacted Qatar already? Your solution may have to be flying via a third country, such as Oman, Kuwait or Jordan.
We are flying from D.C. To bangkok via Doha on Qatar airlines in two weeks. I’ve been trying to follow the news but haven’t found any recent articles on the situation. Do you think we will have any issues with our flight? Should we reach out to the booking agency and change airlines or is it too early to panic.
Thanks for the great post!
Hi Laura,
Because Qatar must now travel a bit more indirectly via Iranian airspace, your flight may be delayed, but will operate no problem. I would not worry about it. Enjoy Qatar Airways and your time in Bangkok!
Matthew,
If I have an option to book a flight to Croatia with Qatar Airways for August, should I consider or move on another airways service provider? I am completely torn, especially after QR’s CEO yesterday. Very little is said about the future.
I would stick with what you have booked.