Qatar Airways moves dozens of planes overseas amid war fallout

Qatar Airways has temporarily positioned some of its aircraft at select airports outside Doha in response to ongoing regional instability, the airline told Doha News.

“Due to the current exceptional circumstances in the region and the resulting disruption to flight operations beyond our control, Qatar Airways has positioned some of its aircraft at selected airports outside Qatar,” the airline said in a written statement. “This is a temporary measure, and the aircraft will be progressively returned to service as flight operations are restored to normal levels.”

The airline added that it could not provide details on the exact number of aircraft parked abroad “due to the dynamic nature of the current operating environment,” noting that “aircraft positioning remains flexible and is assessed continuously based on operational needs.”

Flight-tracking data from FlightRadar24 and media reports indicate that several Qatar Airways planes have been stored at Teruel Airport in eastern Spain, a major maintenance and storage hub. Five additional aircraft landed there on Sunday, bringing the total to 20, following earlier reports that 15 planes were already on site. Teruel Airport can accommodate up to 250 wide-body and 400 narrow-body aircraft and served as a major storage facility during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We’ve acted as a refuge and supported global air transport,” Teruel Airport General Manager Alejandro Ibrahim told Reuters. “We’re working week to week because there’s no clear horizon and it really depends on the companies…how this could all develop in the coming months.” He added, “What we would like is for [the conflict] to end, because our important business is aircraft maintenance. The more planes fly, the greater activity our airport has.”

The positioning comes after regional airspace disruptions caused by the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, which began on February 28. The escalation has led to flight cancellations, delays, and reroutings across the region. Qatar temporarily closed its airspace at the start of the conflict, with Qatar Airways operating limited flights coordinated with the Civil Aviation Authority.

“Qatar Airways continues to closely monitor the situation, with safety for its passengers and crews remaining the airline’s highest priority. Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe full reopening of Qatari airspace,” the airline said.

The aircraft will return to Hamad International Airport “as soon as flight operations are restored to normal levels.”

By Vafa Guliyeva