Qatar Airways Halts Global Operations Following US and Israeli Strikes on Iran
Doha, Saturday, 28 February 2026.
Qatar Airways suspended all flights yesterday following US and Israeli strikes on Iran. The airspace closure forced mid-air diversions to Athens and Muscat, stranding thousands across the global network.
Operational Paralysis Amidst Geopolitical Conflict
This unprecedented grounding of the Qatar Airways fleet serves as the immediate logistical fallout of “Operation Epic Fury,” the joint US-Israeli offensive targeting Iranian leadership and nuclear infrastructure announced earlier this week [4]. While the initial phase of the conflict involved missile exchanges and cyber warfare, the situation deteriorated rapidly on February 27, forcing the Qatar Airways Group to confirm a temporary suspension of all flights to and from Doha due to the complete closure of Qatari airspace [1][2]. This decision effectively severs a primary artery connecting European and Asian markets, underscoring the fragility of global supply chains in the face of modern warfare.
Global Network Disruption
The sudden closure of airspace on February 27 triggered immediate chaos across the carrier’s global network, stranding thousands of passengers mid-journey [1]. Inbound flights from Colombo and Dhaka were forced to divert to Muscat, Oman, while a Chicago service was grounded in Cairo and a Boston flight diverted to Athens [1]. The disruption rippled as far as Australia, where four Doha-bound Virgin Australia flights operated by Qatar Airways—specifically VA1, VA15, VA7, and VA21—were forced to return to their points of origin [3]. Simultaneously, numerous departures from major European hubs, including Berlin, Brussels, and Zurich, performed mid-air U-turns to return to their starting airports [1].
Ripple Effects Across Gulf Aviation
The aviation crisis is not isolated to Qatar; the instability has engulfed the wider Persian Gulf region, with Iran and Iraq also closing their airspaces [1]. Dubai, the world’s busiest international airport, suspended flights following confirmed explosions in the city and shelter-in-place alerts issued to residents at 1:43 p.m. on February 27 [1][3]. Consequently, major carriers including Emirates and Singapore Airlines have cancelled services, with Singapore Airlines specifically grounding flights SQ494 and SQ495 between Singapore and Dubai for February 27 and 28 [3]. This collective shutdown of Gulf aviation hubs represents a critical choke point for international travel and trade.
Escalation and Diplomatic Fallout
Beyond the logistical turmoil, the human and diplomatic toll of the conflict is mounting. State-run media in Iran reported that a US-Israeli strike on a girls’ school in Minab, Hormozgan province, resulted in 40 fatalities on February 27 [3]. In response to the escalation, French President Emmanuel Macron has called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting, warning that the war carries “grave consequences for international peace and security” [3]. Meanwhile, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has offered to travel to Tehran to mediate, as Pentagon officials monitor the ongoing operation from Florida [3].