Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority says the country’s airspace remains fully controlled and safe despite regional tensions, with strict measures and continuous monitoring.
Qatar’s civil aviation authority has said that the country’s air transport sector remains under “full operational control” despite heightened regional tensions and unprecedented risks to airspace safety.
In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), the acting president of the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA), Mohammed bin Faleh Al Hajri, said air traffic operations are being handled to strict safety standards while the wider region faces heightened security concerns.
Al Hajri described a phased response based on continuous risk assessment, which led to the partial reopening of Qatar’s airspace on 7 March after an initial precautionary closure. Flights have resumed on a limited basis using designated air corridors, under strict monitoring and in coordination with the armed forces.
Al Hajri said recent Iranian strikes had affected the broader aviation environment, including Qatar’s, and pointed to growing dangers from drones, missile activity and debris from air‑defence systems. He also noted operational risks such as aircraft being misidentified or entering restricted zones.
Authorities have designated Qatar’s airspace as highly sensitive, allowing only approved routes and controlled traffic levels. Early efforts centred on evacuation flights and cargo movements, with passenger services gradually reintroduced to maintain essential links and supply chains.
Al Hajri added that QCAA and Qatar Airways worked with national partners to assist stranded passengers and sustain cargo operations. Measures included updating emergency procedures, tightening air‑traffic rules and increasing the use of overseas maintenance facilities.
Qatar Airways was permitted to operate maintenance hubs abroad to service 188 aircraft unable to return during the disruption. At Hamad International Airport, aircraft were repositioned, firefighting teams reassigned and work on one runway temporarily halted. Staff and passengers were also issued guidance on emergency assembly points.
Al Hajri said decisions were being made strictly on professional grounds, with safety taking precedence as authorities respond to a fast‑changing and high‑risk situation.
QCAA has strengthened civil aviation security by activating round-the-clock communication channels, increasing inspections and patrols and sharing regional regulatory documents with the International Civil Aviation Organization and neighbouring countries.
Emergency plans ensure constant staffing in the airport’s security operations centre and rapid response capability.
Risk management, he said, relies on continuous evaluation — from defining approved air routes and coordinating with military authorities to requiring prior clearance for each flight, adjusting fuel plans and briefing crews. Airspace security depends on advanced radar, real‑time tracking, strict separation rules and military coordination.
Emergency protocols have been activated across the civil aviation sector, including limiting access points, reducing staffing and ensuring essential operations continue.
Al Hajri said the air traffic control system operates at a high level of readiness and professionalism, with full radar coverage, real‑time monitoring and personnel trained to operate under significant pressure. QCAA regularly conducts drills simulating scenarios such as full or partial airspace closures, communication failures and operations in restricted or high‑security zones, with lessons fed back into planning.
He told QNA that the QCAA is maintaining round‑the‑clock oversight of developments. Safety and security, he said, remain the overriding priority, with decisions based on detailed risk assessments in coordination with national agencies. The measures taken, he added, demonstrate Qatar’s capacity to manage exceptional circumstances while drawing on past experience to enhance future readiness.
