Because of the escalation of conflict in the Middle East region, the airspace has closed over Qatar as of today, Monday, June 23, 2025, you may want to consider delaying your travel — or, at least, keep yourself updated as to the latest information pertaining to the unrest — if Qatar and other locations in the Middle East that are near that country are in your travel plans over the next month or so.
Airspace Closed Over Qatar: June 2025 Travel Alert
The official Internet web site of Hamad International Airport — which is the international airport that serves Doha in Qatar — reports at the time this article was written that:
Following the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the State of Qatar, Hamad International Airport confirms the temporary suspension of air traffic movement amid the situation in the region.
Our priority is always the safety of our passengers. We are working closely with government stakeholders and airline partners to cater to passengers that have been impacted.
We advise passengers to get in touch with their respective airlines in regard to their flights.
Missiles have reportedly been launched from Iran and aimed at military bases of the United States in Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain earlier today.
The official Internet web site of both airports which serve Dubai in the United Arab Emirates reports at the time this article was written that:
Due to recent airspace closures affecting parts of the region, flights operating out of Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) may experience delays, cancellations, or diversions. We strongly advise all travellers to check with their airline for the latest flight status before heading to the airport, and to allow extra time for their journey.
Flight Waivers, Delays, and Cancellations
If you are traveling to or from Qatar and other parts of the Middle East over the next month or so, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to this war which may adversely affect your travel plans. Better yet, postponing or canceling your trip might be a better option — no matter which mode of travel you plan on taking.
If you have a flight scheduled, your flight may be delayed or canceled — and you may be eligible for a waiver of a fee to change your itinerary. If you are driving in any of these areas, watch out for deteriorating weather conditions and traffic problems.
Here are eight airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this active conflict:
- American Airlines has issued a travel alert for Doha for Thursday, June 19, 2025 through Sunday, July 6, 2025; and Sunday, July 20, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Delta Air Lines has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv for Thursday, June 12, 2025 through Sunday, August 31, 2025; and Saturday, November 15, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- United Airlines has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv for Friday, June 13, 2025 through Monday, June 30, 2025; and Monday, June 30, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin. If your new trip is after Monday, July 30, 2025, or is to a different destination, any change fees will still be waived — but you might have to pay a fare difference, depending on the flight.
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has issued a travel alert for Tel Aviv that all flights have been canceled until Monday, June 30, 2025. Alternative flights are unavailable. Flights to Tel Aviv will resume on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
- El Al Airlines has issued travel alerts for Tel Aviv and other airports in Israel that all flights departing from Ben Gurion Airport will depart from Terminal 3 only — including flights which were originally planned to depart from Terminal 1 — and because of the fluidity of the situation, information has been changing on a real-time basis. Customers who wish to cancel the flight ticket and receive a monetary refund in return may do so in accordance with the law and the terms and conditions of their ticket.
- Lufthansa has issued travel alerts for Tel Aviv, Tehran, Amman, Erbil, and Beirut that due to the current situation, Lufthansa Group is suspending its flights to the Middle East as follows:
- Tel Aviv: until and including 31 July
- Tehran: until and including 31 July
- Amman: until and including 20 June
- Erbil: until and including 20 June
- Beirut: until and including 20 June
- Qatar Airways has issued travel alerts for all airports in Iran, Iraq, and Syria for Sunday, June 22, 2025 until further notice. At the time this article was written, the airline had not yet announced the closure of airspace over Qatar.
Final Boarding Call
The war in the Middle East continues to cause ancillary ripple effects on travel throughout many parts of the world — and it has also once again revealed how divided the world is on this conflict.
If you are traveling within the next month or so, be sure to contact your airline or transportation provider for the latest information pertaining to your travels — if they are adversely affected — and please: travel safely.
Photograph ©2024 by Brian Cohen.
