It is just two months+ since Israel and the United States attacked Iran and started the war that first devastated travel around the Gulf and also affects air travel elsewhere due to doubling the price of jet fuel + possible shortages.

We will continue to post a weekly update on Mondays detailing how Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar’s operations have developed.

You can access Qatar Airways here, Emirates here, and Etihad here.

All the airlines we cover have continued to increase flights.  Emirates is above 80% of its pre-Iran War operations, Etihad and Qatar are around 80%.

Qatar Airways

Recent Monday Flights:

March 30: 60 flights

April 6: 80 flights

April 13: 103 flights

April 20: 124 flights

April 27: 126 flights

May 4: 145 flights

Download (PDF, 172KB)

Qatar CEO’s Tier Extension Promise:

Qatar Airways Clarifies Privilege Club Tier Extensions & Qualification Requirements For February 28 – May 31, 2026 (3rd Update)

Qatar Airways Privilege Club Tier Extension & Renewal Policy Update March 27, 2026

Qatar Airways Extends March Expiring Privilege Club Tiers By 3 Months

Qatar Airways CEO’s Message To Privilege Club Members (Tier Extension)

Qatar’s flexible rebooking and refund policies for flights booked on or before May 15, 2026:

Qatar Airways Extends Free Changes For Tickets Issued By May 15, 2026

Qatar’s Update Scheduled Destinations From June 16, 2026:

Qatar Airways Brings Iraqi Destination Restarts Forward + Other Updates Through June 16, 2026

Emirates

Recent Monday Flights:

March 30: 146 flights

April 6: 146 flights

April 13: 145 flights

April 20: 153 flights

April 27: 157 flights

May 4: 184 flights

Download (PDF, 217KB)

Emirates has already extended Skywards member tiers and paused miles expiry until June 30, 2026.

Emirates Extends Skywards Tiers & Pauses Miles Expiry Until June 30, 2026

Emirates has also extended its flexible cancellation and refund policy for flights until May 31, 2026, and now offers one free change for tickets issued on or after April 2.

Emirates Extends Flexible Cancellation & Rebooking Policy For Flights Until May 31, 2026

Emirates Offers One Free Date Change On Tickets Issued From April 2, 2026

Etihad Airways

Recent Monday Flights:

March 30: 71 flights

April 6: 93 flights

April 13: 100 flights

April 20: 95 flights

April 27: 96 flights

May 4: 109 flights

Download (PDF, 131KB)

Note that Etihad has extended its flexible rebooking and refund policies, and also offers lowered tier qualification/requalification requirements:

Etihad Extends Flexible Rebooking & Refund Policy Until May 15, 2026 – Can Rebook Until June 15

Etihad Guest Lowers Qualification & Requalification Criteria By 25% Until March 31, 2027

Conclusion

I am actually writing this in the Emirates business class lounge in Dubai while waiting for my flight to Europe, and the airport is definitely busier than it was in late March, when I flew out last time.

Emirates and Qatar have both significantly increased their operations week-on-week, and Etihad flight numbers are also up.

There are still fewer flights to Gulf Area airports from Asian and European airlines, though some will resume later in May.

Let’s see how the situation develops on the Iran War and fuel supply fronts.

Source