Direct air travel between India and Qatar is finally heading back on track. Starting May 1, 2026, major Indian airlines including Air India, Air India Express, and IndiGo will restart operations to Hamad
International Airport (HIA) in Doha. This move follows nearly two months of severe flight restrictions in the region. The Embassy of India in Doha confirmed the development on April 30, noting that the resumption is coordinated with aviation authorities. The restart is made possible by a fragile security window following a mid-April ceasefire, which has allowed commercial insurers to reauthorise flights into the region.
Resume Date: May 1, 2026. Passengers are urged to contact airlines directly for the most current schedule updates, as operations remain subject to the evolving geopolitical situation.
The Road To Recovery: Doha Airport Operations
The disruption at Hamad International Airport began in late February 2026 due to regional instability, leading to a near-total closure of Qatari airspace to commercial traffic for two months. With the current ceasefire in place, several international carriers have begun a phased return:
Airline: Resumption Date
flydubai: April 21, 2026
Oman Air, Royal Jordanian: April 23, 2026
Biman Bangladesh, Nepal Airlines: April 26, 2026
Egypt Air: April 28, 2026
Air India, Air India Express, Gulf Air: May 1, 2026
Ethiopian Airlines: May 4, 2026
SriLankan Airlines: May 11, 2026
Qatar Airways Expands Global Reach
While Indian carriers return to Doha, the home carrier, Qatar Airways, is aggressively reinstating its global network. The airline plans to connect to over 150 destinations between June 16 and September 15, 2026.
Key Upcoming Routes Include:
- India: Kozhikode (May 1), Goa (May 16).
- Europe: London Gatwick, Mykonos, and Malaga (May 16); Oslo, Prague, and Zagreb (June 16).
- Americas: Los Angeles (June 7), Atlanta and Boston (June 16).
- Africa: Kinshasa and Luanda (May 16), Alexandria (June 16).
Fuel Crisis And Disruptions In Europe
While connectivity improves in West Asia, the aviation industry in Europe is facing a separate challenge: a deepening jet fuel crisis. This has led to a wave of cancellations and network reshaping:
- Lufthansa: Cancelling 20,000 short-haul flights through October; several destinations will be managed by sister airlines like SWISS and Austrian.
- KLM & Transavia: Cutting numerous flights from Amsterdam due to “unviable” kerosene costs.
- Budget Pressures: Ryanair warned of potential 5-10% flight cuts through July, while easyJet faces soaring costs from spot-market fuel purchases.
- Turkish Airlines: Suspending 18 international routes, including services to Havana and Luanda, with some suspensions lasting until November.
- Surcharges: SunExpress has introduced a temporary EUR 10 fuel surcharge on Europe-Turkey routes to offset rising expenses.
