Qatar Airways CEO calls out airline's biggest crisis in history
Dhaka: Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Hamad Ali Al-Khater has called the Iran war the airline's most severe crisis to date, surpassing even the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2017 Gulf blockade.
Al-Khater, who had held the post for under three months, faced the crisis when the United States and Israel launched a major military offensive against Tehran in late February. Gulf states swiftly closed their airspace amid fears of retaliation.
Those fears materialized as Iran fired ballistic missiles and drones toward Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Kuwait International Airport and Dubai International Airport sustained direct hits within hours, injuring dozens of people.
Doha Hamad International Airport was reportedly targeted as well, though it escaped being struck. Qatari authorities nonetheless treated the threat as serious and kept the country's airspace shut far longer than neighboring Dubai, which reopened quickly as Emirates resumed operations.
Some stranded passengers reportedly drove to Saudi Arabia to catch outbound flights as the closure dragged on. Qatar eventually reopened its airspace gradually as the danger eased, but by then the airline had already absorbed heavy financial losses.
In a recent media interview, Al-Khater said the episode was "our single largest crisis in our history," adding that dealing with geopolitical turmoil is a routine part of running the airline.
The crisis has coincided with broader economic strain on Qatar, whose liquefied natural gas exports have been curtailed by disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a key revenue source for the wealthy Gulf state.
In response, Qatar Airways has reportedly shifted from a market-share-driven strategy toward prioritizing its most profitable routes and trimming weaker ones. Despite the turbulence, Al-Khater reportedly described current travel demand as strong, with occupancy rates staying high.
By June, the carrier had restored around 85 percent of its route network and has announced plans to serve 170 destinations this coming winter season.
Regional competitors, including Emirates and Etihad Airways, have reported similarly resilient booking trends, suggesting travelers are regaining confidence in flying through the Middle East.
Risks remain, however. Houthi rebels in Yemen recently targeted Riyadh Airport, with one missile breaching defenses and hitting a fuel storage facility, while the Iranian threat has not been fully resolved.
Al-Khater also flagged high jet fuel prices as an ongoing concern, though fuel hedging and competitive pressure are expected to keep fares in check for now, pending broader relief across the aviation sector.
