How long can Qatar Airways keep Doha's hub running around closed Gulf airspace?
Timeline for Qatar Airways
Suspended Riyadh and Dammam flights
Iran Conflict 2026: Houthi strikes kill 13 at Riyadh airportMentioned in: Two Iran wind-down windows shut four days apart
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Iran Conflict 2026Background
Qatar Airways temporarily suspended flights to Riyadh and Dammam on 13 October 2026, citing "the current situation" after Houthi strikes on Saudi airports killed at least 14 people. It gave no restart date. Etihad Airways cancelled its own Saudi routes the same day.
The airline was founded by the government of Qatar in 1993 and has been wholly state-owned since 2013. It flies from Hamad International Airport in Doha, one of The Gulf's three mega-hubs whose business depends on sitting between Europe, Africa and Asia. It joined the Oneworld alliance in 2013.
The war has repeatedly closed the airspace that model needs. By July, thirteen foreign airlines had suspended flights to Qatar and three neighbours through October after a European aviation safety bulletin. The Saudi suspensions show the risk to Doha's network now comes from Yemen as well as Iran.
Reference
how big is the Qatar Airways fleet?
Is Qatar Airways state-owned?
why has Qatar Airways suspended flights to Bahrain, Kuwait and Erbil?
Is Qatar Airways still flying to Bahrain?
Why did Qatar Airways suspend flights to Riyadh and Dammam?
When will Qatar Airways resume flights to Saudi Arabia?
Where is Qatar Airways based?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 17 October 2026. Editorial standards.