Over 20,000 passengers stranded — how Qatar Airways got them flying again in record time

Dubai: Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Group Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways, in a heartfelt message to passengers, opened up about how the Doha-based national carrier faced an extraordinary operational crisis starting June 23.

This was when an unexpected closure of Qatari airspace forced the airline to suspend all global operations immediately. The closure was followed by similar restrictions in Bahrain, the UAE, and Kuwait — disrupting one of the world’s busiest air hubs at Hamad International Airport.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer described the moment:
“This week brought an operational crisis few airlines will ever encounter, and one that challenged the very core of what it means to run a global airline.”

At 18:00 local time, nearly 100 aircraft were either en route, on approach, or ready to depart from Doha, when the missile attack launched from Iran on Al Udeid Air Base led to immediate activation of air defence systems and swift action by Qatar’s Armed Forces to protect its people.

“At the time, over 90 Qatar Airways flights carrying more than 20,000 passengers to Doha, were forced to divert immediately,” the CEO explained. Flights were rerouted to airports across Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, Oman, the UAE, and further afield to major hubs in Europe and Asia.

Inside Hamad International Airport, over 10,000 passengers found themselves stranded amid what the CEO called “one of the most severe and complex operational challenges in modern aviation history.” Many aircraft were grounded or delayed due to curfews and restrictions, while crews faced legal limits on operating hours.

Despite the unprecedented disruption affecting over 151 flights, Qatar Airways’ focus remained steadfast: “The priority for us was clear: to care for our passengers impacted by the unprecedented situation that continued to unfold, and to restore our global operations as safely and swiftly as possible.”

When the airspace reopened shortly after midnight on 24 June, diverted aircraft began returning to Doha, and the number of passengers in transit surged to more than 22,000 by early morning.

The airline’s business continuity plans kicked in immediately: “Our teams coordinated on hard resource planning, catering, ground transport, hotel accommodation, and real-time alignment with passenger movements, immigration, customs, and every airport stakeholder.”

More than 4,600 passengers were accommodated in approximately 3,200 hotel rooms across Doha, with many receiving onward boarding passes before leaving the terminal to ease the resumption of their journeys.

Teams worked tirelessly to assist passengers on the ground — “rebooking journeys, prioritising medical cases, supporting families and elderly travellers, and manually rebuilding complex travel itineraries, some involving other airlines, and expired visas.” Over 35,000 meals were distributed alongside water, comfort kits, and ongoing reassurance.

To meet demand, Qatar Airways increased capacity on routes with high volumes of displaced travelers, scaled contact center resources, and introduced a flexible travel policy that waived change and refund fees for passengers who had not yet started their journeys.

“A severe geopolitical escalation had forced the shutdown of our global hub, but our focus was to stay agile, adapt, and continue to deliver for our passengers,” the CEO said.

By June 24, Qatar Airways operated 390 flights, steadily rebuilding its network. Within 24 hours, all passengers from diverted flights—around 20,000 people—were cleared, with over 11,000 resuming their journeys during the morning wave alone. The operation stabilized rapidly, and by 25 June, 578 scheduled flights were operating.

The CEO expressed deep gratitude: “To everyone who travelled with us during this difficult time — to those who waited patiently in long queues, to those who faced uncertainty, and to those who showed understanding in the face of a worrying and rapidly-evolving crisis — I thank you.”

He also acknowledged the extraordinary teamwork behind the scenes:
Millions of travelers place their trust in Qatar Airways daily, a responsibility the airline’s CEO said is “not taken lightly. It is earned, through action, through responsibility, and a readiness to act when it matters most.”