Qatar Airways Suspends 22 Routes Amid Middle East Conflict and Fuel Crisis

Qatar Airways has become the latest airline to cancel flights this May, suspending routes to 22 cities as the Middle East conflict and soaring jet fuel prices continue to disrupt global aviation.

Impact of the Middle East Conflict

Since the eruption of the Middle East conflict in late February, airlines have been forced to axe routes and amend flight schedules due to restricted airspace across the Gulf region. The situation was exacerbated by Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas passes, triggering a worldwide shortage and skyrocketing jet fuel prices.

With growing concerns over the long-term supply of jet fuel, a total of 18 airlines have announced cancellations, and 13,000 flights worldwide have been removed from May schedules, according to figures from aviation analytics firm Cirium. Qatar Airways is now the latest carrier to have routes axed, with flights to 22 cities suspended during May and beyond.

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Suspended Routes

Qatar Airways has suspended flights from its Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) to four European destinations: Malta, Sarajevo, Sofia, and Venice, according to Simple Flying. As airlines prioritise their routes amid the jet fuel crisis, it is anticipated that Qatar Airways will resume services to Malta, Sofia, and Venice in September.

Additionally, the Doha-based airline is not currently offering flights from its hub to Canberra, Cebu, Djibouti, Kano, Kigali, Mogadishu, Nagpur, or Zanzibar. Around half of these routes are expected to return in September, after the busy summer holiday period.

Further suspended routes include flights to Aleppo, Gassim, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, Mashhad, Neom Bay, Shiraz, Tabuk, Taif, Tehran, and Yanbu, in addition to three cities in Iran where airspace remains closed. Some of these suspended routes, excluding Aleppo and Iran, are expected to resume in September.

Positive Developments

However, there is some positive news in the aviation sector this week. Qatar Airways announced that it is resuming some of its routes and that its Airbus A380s will return next month, after being grounded. In a statement released on 13 May, the airline said: 'Qatar Airways continues to restore its network across the Middle East, with the resumption of double-daily passenger flights to Abu Dhabi (AUH), the capital of the United Arab Emirates.'

This follows the airline's announcement of plans to expand its network further in time for the summer holidays. 'Qatar Airways is expanding its international flight network, with services to over 150 destinations from 16 June 2026, connecting more passengers to more of the world this summer,' the statement read.