Qatar Airways Airbus A340-600.
Qatar Airways Airbus A340-600.

Doha ATC and Qatar Airways overcome Arabian airspace restrictions

June 7, 2017 1 Comment 593 Views

One has to tip their hat to both the air traffic control at Doha as well as Qatar Airways for handling the airspace restrictions imposed by their immediate neighbours Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Yemen in the wake of the cessation of diplomatic relations between these countries and Qatar.

As their screen shots from FlightRadar24 and FlightAware show, African and South American flights require to go around the Arabian peninsula. The flights to Brazil now make a technical stop (i.e. refuelling) at Athens.

Most flights to other parts of the world are flying around the UAE turning south over the Omani exclave of Musandam entering the Gulf of Oman and carrying with their flight routes very close to routine.

Flights to southern parts of Asia, go around the UAE via the straits of Hormuz and come back to their original track followed prior to the ban.
Flights to southern parts of Asia, go around the UAE via the straits of Hormuz and come back to their original track followed prior to the ban.

Qatar Airways flights to Singapore and ASEAN undergo a very minor deviation.
Qatar Airways flights to Singapore and ASEAN undergo a very minor deviation around the UAE.

North American and European flights are following their regular flight paths
North American and European flights are following their regular flight paths north-east over Iran, around Iraq, over Turkey and then either through southern Europe or a more northern trajectory over Scandinavia, Baltics or Western Russia

No significant impact of Australia, Asia, New Zealand flights
No significant impact of Australia, Asia, New Zealand flights

Qatar Airways' flights to Africa have to go around the UAE via the Straits of Hormuz and Oman
Qatar Airways’ flights to Africa have to go around the UAE via the Straits of Hormuz and Oman

Qatar Airways flights to Africa have to take a long way around the peninsula. Oman still maintains relations with Qatar.
Qatar Airways flights to Africa have to take a long way around the peninsula. Oman still maintains relations with Qatar.

Foreign airlines are not seemingly subject to the ban
Foreign airlines are not seemingly subject to the ban. This British Airways flight from Doha to London travelled over Bahrain. Is this specific to Bahrain since media reports suggest Indian carriers’ flights to Doha are asked to deviate around UAE airspace.

About Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

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