Suche
Mein Konto
Flights to Doha and Vienna suspended: Tension in the Middle East is rising!
Iran bombed Al-Udeid in Qatar in retaliation for US attacks, causing flights to and from Vienna to be cancelled.
Flights to Doha and Vienna suspended: Tension in the Middle East is rising!
The last few weeks have been marked by ongoing tensions in the Middle East, and current events are casting a shadow on travel options to Vienna. MyDistrict reports that Iran bombed the Al-Udeid military base in Qatar in response to US attacks on its nuclear facilities. This base is a major hub for U.S. forces and serves as a critical base in the Middle East.
As a direct consequence of these attacks, Qatar has closed its airspace, which has had a fatal impact on international air traffic. Qatar Airways then suspended all flights to and from Vienna. At least two flights were canceled: On Monday, the last flight from Doha to Vienna landed late, and the flight planned for Tuesday morning did not take place. Another flight at 2:05 p.m. is also on the cancellation list and passengers must also hope for the next flight, scheduled for Wednesday at 7 a.m.
US military situation and international reactions
The US military responded immediately to the escalation by increasing security measures at countless bases in the Middle East. Iran has fired a variety of missiles at the Al-Udeid base; Reports of the exact number of shells vary between 6, 14 and 19. According to reports, one rocket hit the area, but the damage was minor and there were no injuries. CBC quotes President Trump, who called the attack “very weak” and emphasized that no Americans were harmed.
Immediately before the attack, the US and UK governments had recommended that their citizens be brought to safety in Qatar, which shows how serious the situation was. The Gulf region itself has also seen an increase in military activity in recent weeks, particularly across strategic military sites in Qatar, Bahrain and beyond. The U.S. presence in the region is significant, with an estimated 40,000 military personnel on the ground and numerous more in the maritime area.
Additional impact on travelers
The airlines in Europe are also affected. Loud MyDistrict Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa have suspended various routes to the Middle East, including Tel Aviv and Tehran, until further notice. The impact beyond flight connections is huge, with many travelers now facing the problem of having their flights canceled.
Qatar Airways has announced short-term support for affected passengers and deployed additional ground staff at Hamad International Airport and other airports to assist travelers in this delicate situation. As the conflict continues, the situation in the region remains tense and could see further changes in the coming days.
Given these developments, it is clear that geopolitical tensions not only have an impact on security, but also on international travel. The coming weeks will show whether the airspace restrictions and flight cancellations will be a permanent reality for travelers to Vienna.