Qatar Airways shifts widebody fleet to storage as Gulf conflict disrupts airspace

Qatar Airways has moved some of its largest aircraft into long-term storage, signalling preparations for months of disruption across the Gulf region.

According to a report by the Financial Times, the airline began transferring aircraft last week to Teruel Airport in Spain, a facility known for heavy maintenance and long-term storage operations.

Data from Flightradar24 shows that on Sunday, March 22, the carrier dispatched five additional aircraft to the site, bringing the total number stationed there to 20.

Most of the aircraft involved are among the largest in the airline’s fleet, including Airbus A380s, A350s and Boeing 787s, which typically operate long-haul routes feeding into the Doha hub for onward connections.

The airline is currently operating at a sharply reduced capacity as large portions of regional airspace remain affected by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, now entering its fourth week.

Qatar Airways said the decision to move aircraft out of the Gulf was a temporary measure until airspace is fully reopened.

In a statement to the Financial Times, the airline said: “Due to the current situation in the region and the resulting disruption to flight operations, Qatar Airways has positioned some aircraft at selected airports outside Qatar. This is a temporary measure, and aircraft will gradually return to service as operations normalize.”

The carrier is currently running less than a quarter of its normal schedule, making it one of the most affected major airlines in the region.

While Emirates and Etihad have resumed some scheduled flights from their bases in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Qatar’s recovery efforts remain constrained by continued airspace restrictions.

Qatar Airways said it would resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirms that the country’s airspace is “safe and fully reopened.”

Alejandro Ibrahim, chief executive of Teruel Airport, said activity at the facility has increased since the conflict began.

Speaking to a local television channel last week, Ibrahim said: “The number of customers arriving with aircraft is increasing. Airlines are reducing fleet sizes, revising routes and trying to keep aircraft in safer locations such as Europe.”

Teruel Airport has previously been used by the aviation industry to store aircraft during crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aviation analyst John Strickland said the facility offers a range of services, from temporary storage to “deep storage,” where engine intakes are sealed and windows covered to prevent overheating of onboard electrical systems.

“It’s a great place to store aircraft knowing they won’t deteriorate, at least in terms of humidity,” Strickland said.

He added that, given the relatively young age of Qatar Airways’ fleet, it is unlikely that the aircraft sent to Teruel are undergoing heavy maintenance.

The scale of aircraft transfers suggests the airline may be preparing for a longer period of storage, Strickland said, adding that the move also allows Qatar to “remove valuable assets from potential risk of damage.”