Amidst the ongoing tension and military action in the Middle East, Turkish Airlines has taken a big step keeping in mind the safety of passengers. The airline has stopped its flights to a total of 10 countries including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE and Oman. This decision has been taken on 28 February 2026, which will have a direct impact on those Indian expatriates who live in or are traveling from Gulf countries.
For which countries and for how long will flights remain closed?
Turkish Airlines and its low-cost service AJet have set different deadlines for different countries. This decision has been taken after the airfield was closed due to security reasons.
Immediate stop for 28th February: Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman. The further situation for these countries is being monitored.
Ban till March 2: Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan.
The airline has said that due to military strikes and closure of airspace in the area, safe operation of aircraft has become difficult.
How to get refund if the ticket is booked?
The airline has given relief news for the passengers whose flights have been cancelled. Turkish Airlines has confirmed that affected passengers can get a refund for their tickets or reschedule their travel dates.
Full Refund: If you have not used the ticket, you will get a full refund.
Free Rebooking: Passengers can rebook their flights for another date without any extra charges.
How to check: For this, passengers will have to go to the ‘Manage Booking’ section of the website or mobile app.
What precautions have been advised to the passengers?
Due to this sudden change, many passengers are stuck at big airports like Istanbul and Dubai. Authorities in Oman, UAE and Qatar have appealed to all passengers to contact their airlines before leaving home. Airlines now have to cover long distances by avoiding closed routes, for which Pakistani or Saudi Arabian airspace is being used.
