Doha, September 10, 2026: Qatar Airways has announced that passenger traffic has recovered to between 90% and 95% of previous year levels following regional airspace disruptions that began in late February. Hamad International Airport is now facilitating more than 140,000 passenger movements daily, and the airline's network has been restored to approximately 160 destinations.
Passenger traffic recovered to 90% and 95% of previous year levels
Hamad International Airport facilitating over 140,000 daily passenger movements
Network restored to approximately 160 destinations
Traffic and On-Time Performance
Qatar Airways Group CEO Hamad Ali Al Khater reported on September 9 in Doha that the carrier has regained a significant share of traffic with strong load factors. While current on-time performance is approximately 90%, the airline noted that regional airspace congestion may cause delays ranging from 10 minutes to one hour for some flights.
Passengers holding confirmed Qatar Airways tickets with travel dates between February 28, 2026, and September 15, 2026, remain eligible for special rebooking protection. The airline is offering complimentary date changes for these bookings, allowing travel to be rescheduled up to October 31, 2026, subject to seat availability and fare seasonality. If a flight is affected by airline-side disruption, passengers may be eligible for additional fee-free changes until October 31, 2026. Unused ticket value may also be refunded, with processing times of up to 28 working days. Passengers are advised to verify their eligibility before the September 15 cutoff.
Airport Advice and Operations
Qatar Airways advised passengers not to travel to departure airports without a valid, confirmed ticket, citing potential last-minute schedule changes due to operational or safety reasons. Passengers are urged to update mobile numbers and email addresses in their booking profiles to receive schedule change notifications. In India, the airline operates direct services from Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Mumbai, Nagpur, and Thiruvananthapuram.
Past Support and Future Plans
Chief Operating Officer Abdullah Ali reported that during the February airspace closure, more than 16,400 passengers were stranded, including 8,000 in Doha and 8,400 at other international stations. The airline managed this by booking 15,600 rooms across 61 hotels and providing over 15,000 meals at Hamad International Airport. Looking ahead, the airline plans to add 138 new aircraft to its fleet over the next five years, including Airbus A350-1000, Boeing 777-9, and A321LR models. Additionally, the airline is installing Starlink high-speed internet across approximately 150 aircraft.
