Bahrain’s national carrier, Gulf Air, has temporarily relocated several of its aircraft from Bahrain International Airport due to airspace disruptions in the Gulf region. On Thursday morning, a smoke plume was seen rising near the airport, prompting the evacuation of 21 aircraft, including 11 Gulf Air planes, one Air India Express plane, and nine cargo aircraft. This repositioning was part of Gulf Air’s operational planning to ensure continued efficiency and improve connectivity for customers.
As flights out of Bahrain are currently suspended, Gulf Air is operating daily return services from King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to London, Bangkok, and Mumbai. These flights are available to book for eligible passengers, according to a statement from the airline.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has confirmed a limited schedule of repatriation flights to and from Hamad International Airport in Doha. The flights, authorized by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, will cover 36 destinations worldwide. However, the airline has stated that these flights do not indicate the resumption of scheduled commercial operations. Flights departing from Doha include destinations such as Cairo, Johannesburg, New York, and Madrid, while flights arriving to Doha include cities like Paris, London, and Bangkok.
British Airways has cancelled all flights to and from Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv until later this month. Flights to and from Abu Dhabi have been cancelled until later this year. The airline has also been operating repatriation flights to help stranded passengers return home.
Oman Air has been a crucial transit point for passengers unable to take off from the UAE due to regional airspace closures. The airline has operated almost 80 extra flights and helped over 97,000 passengers get home. Oman Air will continue to add extra frequencies where possible and has also provided additional bus services for those crossing the land border from the UAE to Oman.
Other airlines, such as Emirates, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, Air India, Virgin Atlantic, Saudia, Wizz Air, Turkish Airlines, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa Group, Air Canada, and Garuda Indonesia, have also made changes to their flights to and from the Middle East due to the current situation. These changes include flight cancellations, suspensions, and adjustments to routes.
In conclusion, the ongoing airspace disruptions in the Gulf region have caused numerous changes to flight schedules for airlines operating in the area. Passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates and to book flights accordingly.