Stranded in Doha? Qatar Airways to Operate 10 Special Flights to India Today Amid Airspace Ban
New Delhi, March 20, 2026 — Bringing massive relief to thousands of Indian nationals stranded in the Middle East, Qatar Airways is set to operate 10 special, non-scheduled flights to India today. The emergency deployment comes as the escalating conflict in West Asia continues to severely restrict flight operations and force the prolonged closure of Qatari airspace.
According to aviation authorities, these 10 additional flights scheduled for Friday are part of a massive, coordinated effort to clear the backlog of passengers trapped in Doha since the regional crisis erupted.
Operating Under ‘Safe Corridors’
The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority has not yet declared a full, safe reopening of the country’s national airspace. However, special restricted flight corridors have been authorized to help move stranded travelers.
Operating under these strict safety guidelines, Qatar Airways has rolled out a revised, limited flight schedule running from March 18 to March 28. As part of this targeted network recovery, the airline is currently connecting Doha to nine major Indian cities:
Delhi
Mumbai
Bengaluru
Chennai
Hyderabad
Kochi
Ahmedabad
Amritsar
Thiruvananthapuram
This targeted airlift is already showing results. According to the Indian Embassy in Doha, Qatar Airways successfully operated initial flights earlier this week that safely evacuated over 1,600 Indian nationals.
Strict Boarding Rules: Do Not Rush the Airport
Qatar Airways has issued a strict advisory urging passengers not to head to Hamad International Airport unless they have received official notification of a confirmed booking on one of the special flights. Because these are controlled operations, airport protocols are being strictly enforced to prevent overcrowding and security risks.
Passengers holding previously confirmed tickets for the canceled regular flights are being contacted directly by the airline with new travel details via SMS and email.
Free Rescheduling and Refunds
To ease the financial burden on affected travelers, Qatar Airways is offering highly flexible rebooking options for passengers who had confirmed bookings between February 28 and March 28, 2026.
Free Changes: Passengers are allowed two free date changes, permitting them to select a different flight date up to April 30, 2026.
Full Refunds: Those who no longer wish to travel can opt for a full refund of their unused ticket value.
While the 10 special flights today provide a critical lifeline, Qatar Airways emphasized that a complete return to its normal global schedule will depend entirely on the complete de-escalation of the military conflict and the unconditional reopening of West Asian airspace.
