In an extraordinary move following this week’s sudden and unprecedented Qatar airspace closure, Qatar Airways Group CEO Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer has published a detailed open letter revealing the true scale of disruption the airline faced—and how it responded.
The Trigger: Sudden Qatar Airspace Closure
On June 23, an unexpected missile attack launched from Iran toward Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar prompted authorities to shut down Qatari airspace. The closure brought operations at Hamad International Airport—one of the world’s busiest transit hubs—to an abrupt halt.
At the time, almost 100 Qatar Airways aircraft were in the air, with many already on approach to Doha or preparing for departure. All departures from Doha were suspended until early June 24.
Unprecedented Scale of Impact of Qatar Airspace Closure
Al-Meer’s letter offered rare insight into the real-time impact:
- Over 151 Qatar Airways flights disrupted
- Over 90 flights to Doha carrying 20,000 passengers were forced to divert immediately: 25 flights diverted to Saudi Arabia, 18 to Turkey, 15 to India, 13 to Oman, 5 to the UAE. Others were sent to hubs across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
- Over 10,000 passengers were stranded inside Hamad International Airport at the time of closure
- As the diverted aircraft began returning to Doha, and their passengers disembarked at Hamad International Airport, the number of passengers in transit surged to over 22,000 .
The ripple effects extended across continents, with aircraft out of position, crew duty limits exceeded, and a complex web of rescheduling, immigration challenges, and coordination across jurisdictions.
Swift Response
Qatar Airways activated its business continuity plan, redeploying teams across hubs to manage rebookings, accommodation, and passenger care. Highlights of the recovery:
- 4,600 customers given hotel stays in Doha, using 3,200 rooms
- 35,000 meals distributed
- All 20,000 diverted passengers rebooked within 24 hours
- 11,000 passengers resumed travel the morning of June 24
- 390 flights operated on June 24;
- 578 flights scheduled by June 25, restoring full operations
A Candid Public Message
The open letter was notable not only for its depth of operational detail but also its direct and transparent tone. It read as a line-by-line recounting of what happened, offering passengers and stakeholders rare visibility into the inner workings of an airline navigating a crisis.
Source: Qatar Airways – Open Letter to Passengers
Image Source: Qatar Airways
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