Stranded travelers at Doha’s Hamad International Airport remain in increasing limbo. Flights are taking place, flights are getting canceled, and pandemonium is about because of an unexpected airspace shutdown. The Qatari government closed the center under pressure from the Gulf States as tensions in the region severely heightened. As many passengers are left in excruciating limbo awaiting answers. Amanda Tate recently returned from a growing game-changer of a conference in Italy. At the same time, Polly Robertson was travelling to Adelaide.
It reached a boiling point Tuesday, as travelers were left high and dry with little to no definitive answers from the major airlines or online travel companies. Angry crowds packed the concourse as frustrated passengers stood in line with their bags, nervously waiting to learn the fate of their delayed or canceled flights.
Stranded Travelers Share Their Experiences
FoA policy analyst Amanda Tate and senior FoE activist Polly Robertson first crossed paths in Doha airport, both shocked at what was happening. Tate, he says, was disillusioned. She’d been all but packed up to fly home, but the airspace closure up-ended her plans in an instant. Meanwhile, Robertson shared her dismay over the chaos: “Everyone is literally sitting where they can find a spot and waiting for any of the announcements.”
The mood at the airport has been a powder keg, with many of the terrified passengers expressing disgust at the chaos and panic. Robertson recalled the story of a young boy that had come alone all the way from Scotland. It wasn’t his first time out, though—he was going to visit his sister in Sydney. “He looked completely discombobulated. And this other little girl was wailing,” she remembered.
It had happened just as Australian expat Damian Milverton, then working in Paris, had flown to Doha. He described the moment he was caught in the chaos: “I flew in from Dublin and my flight was on the ground for 40 minutes. I was in the midst of airport security when it struck. No announcements. Nothing.”
Government Response and Advice for Travelers
As trapped travelers stood in limbo, officials called for patience and offered direction about how to deal with their new reality. Dean Long, CEO of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents stressed the need to keep communication open with booking agents. “If [passengers] are flying out today or in the next 48 hours, they will be contacted by their travel agent or airline if their flight has been cancelled,” he said.
Long further recommended travelers book extra stays if they were ever uncomfortable with their hotel. “If they are nervous, book an extra night’s accommodation where you are to give you that certainty that you will have a place to stay,” he stated. This kind of travel is usually claimable under standard travel insurance policies.
Despite these reassurances, more than half of all travelers still expressed frustration around communication delays from airlines and travel agencies. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) was still unable to give any clear advice. This remains true even after the airspace restrictions were removed.
The Impact of Ongoing Conflicts
Chaotic scenes at Doha airport are a sign of a growing trend threatening air travel in the region. These problems arise out of continued war. Main arteries into cities across the world—from the capital of Qatar to Dubai—have already been closed. We understand that the abrupt closure has been inconvenient and stressful for many travelers as they return to their final destinations.
You must rebook your trip with a travel agency. Follow this step if you have not heard from your airline about your flights in the past 24 hours. According to Natalie Bell, a spokesperson from the American Travel Insurance Association, travel insurers usually consider claims individually. “Make sure you know what options are available to you,” she advised.
With the turmoil still ongoing at Doha airport, affected passengers can only wish for more transparency, and an end to their travel miseries.
