What happened
- Qatar Airways: Privilege Club tier extensions and qualification requirements updated for Feb 28–May 31, 2026. Flexible rebooking and refund policies extended until September 15, 2026. Route updates include bringing forward Dubai, Sharjah, and Dammam restarts while delaying Los Angeles through June 16.
- Emirates: Skywards member tiers extended and miles expiry paused until June 30, 2026. Flexible cancellation and rebooking policy extended until May 31, 2026. One free date change offered for tickets issued on or after April 2.
- Etihad: Flexible rebooking and refund policies extended until May 15, 2026 (rebook until June 15). Tier qualification/requalification criteria lowered by 25% until March 31, 2027. Silver or Gold status offered after one round-trip in economy or business from select origins. Daily flight counts show gradual recovery: Qatar (126 flights as of April 27), Emirates (96 flights), and Etihad (126 flights). Traffic recovery remains subject to the unpredictability of the ongoing conflict
Two months into the Iran War, Gulf airline operations have largely stabilized, though jet fuel prices have doubled. Qatar Airways is the only carrier still actively ramping up, with scheduled increases on May 16 and June 16. Current operational levels are approximately 60% for Qatar, 70% for Etihad, and 80% for Emirates. Key policy updates include: