Qatar, Bahrain, and Iran Hit Hard with 18 Flight Disruptions and 39 Postponements – Travelers Endure Exasperating Delays and Cancellations by Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, and Pegasus Airlines – Find Out What to Expect from the Airlines and Affected Airports

Published on January 17, 2026

The aviation sector in Middle East has been rocked recently as three major airlines, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, and Pegasus Airlines, have announced the cancellation of over 18 flights due to severe weather conditions, causing massive disruption for travelers and affecting key airports and cities across the region. This disruption has left thousands of passengers stranded, while tourism in key countries like Bahrain, Iran, and Turkey has also faced a significant setback. The following detailed report explores the cancellation patterns, affected regions, passenger impact, and how the tourism industry could potentially recover from this unforeseen crisis.

Flight Cancellations Across Major Airlines

Qatar Airways (QTR Flights)

Qatar Airways, one of the largest carriers in the Middle East, has had to cancel several of its flights between Iran and Qatar. Among the key flights impacted, the following flights were severely affected:

• Flight QTR499 from Imam Khomeini International (IKA) to Hamad International (DOH)Flight QTR498 from Hamad International (DOH) to Imam Khomeini International (IKA)

Gulf Air (GFA Flights)

Gulf Air, which operates flights from Bahrain to major European and Middle Eastern destinations, also had a challenging period as they canceled Flight GFA5 from Bahrain International Airport (BAH) to Manchester Airport (MAN). The cause was linked to unseasonable weather conditions that caused disruptions in the airline’s operations. This cancellation especially affected passengers intending to connect to onward international flights.

Pegasus Airlines (PGT Flights)

Pegasus Airlines, a popular Turkish carrier, also saw its flights affected, primarily between Istanbul and various destinations across Iran. The following Pegasus flights were disrupted:

• Flight PGT520 from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International (SAW) to Mashhad International (MHD)Flight PGT510 from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International (SAW) to Imam Khomeini International (IKA)

Weather-related disruptions in Turkey, particularly strong winds and heavy rain, led to these cancellations. As a result, the airline had to reschedule and accommodate passengers, causing delays and confusion across Turkish airports.

Key Airports Affected

Qatar Airways:

1. Hamad International Airport (DOH) – Qatar’s flagship hub located in Doha, which faced operational slowdowns, especially in handling international departures and arrivals.
2. Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) – Located in Tehran, Iran, this airport also experienced difficulties with its flight schedules due to the adverse weather.

Gulf Air:

1. Bahrain International Airport (BAH) – This was the key airport affected by Gulf Air’s flight cancellations. Flight GFA5 from BAH was severely delayed, and passengers were rerouted, causing further confusion.
2. Manchester Airport (MAN) – The destination for Gulf Air’s canceled flight, where flight disruptions caused serious delays, affecting not only passengers from Bahrain but those connecting to other destinations.

Pegasus Airlines:

1. Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) – A critical hub for Pegasus Airlines, this airport saw a high volume of canceled flights. Weather-related disruptions, including gusty winds and thunderstorms, severely impacted passenger flow and operations.
2. Mashhad International Airport (MHD) – Affected by Pegasus’ cancellations, passengers were left stranded as the weather conditions in Iran were harsh.

Key Regions Affected

Qatar Airways:

• Iran – Tehran, in particular, saw the impact of flight cancellations, with passengers being stuck at the airport. Weather delays led to flight rescheduling, causing a ripple effect in the travel flow across the region.
• Qatar – The destination of many Middle Eastern flights was also impacted. Although the weather did not directly affect the destination itself, operational slowdowns caused delays in passenger processing and baggage handling.

Gulf Air:

• Bahrain – As the hub for Gulf Air, Bahrain saw significant challenges, particularly with passenger services and connecting flights, affecting local tourism during peak travel periods.
• United Kingdom (Manchester) – British passengers who were meant to connect via Gulf Air were unable to reach their destinations, disrupting their travel plans.

Pegasus Airlines:

• Turkey – The most affected region, with Istanbul facing significant delays and disruptions due to heavy storms that also impacted flight connections to other European destinations.
• Iran – Cities like Mashhad and Isfahan were affected by delays, as Pegasus operates key routes to the region, and the weather disruption added to the turmoil.

Affected Routes and Cities

Qatar Airways:

• Route 1:Imam Khomeini International (IKA) to Hamad International (DOH)
  • The cancellation of flight QTR499 and QTR498 severely disrupted travel between Tehran and Doha, two major hubs for business and tourism.
• Route 2:Hamad International (DOH) to Imam Khomeini International (IKA)
  • As with the inbound flights to Iran, Qatar Airways passengers faced significant delays, disrupting international connections.

Gulf Air:

• Route:Bahrain International Airport (BAH) to Manchester Airport (MAN)
  • Gulf Air’s passengers on GFA5 had to face the impacts of severe weather, especially in the UK, which added further delays as the weather conditions caused an aviation chain reaction.

Pegasus Airlines:

• Route 1:Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) to Mashhad International (MHD)
  • The stormy weather in Istanbul affected Pegasus’ connectivity with the Iranian city of Mashhad, forcing delays and cancellations.
• Route 2:Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) to Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA)
  • This route saw cancellations due to Turkey’s weather patterns, which caused severe disruptions for travelers heading to Tehran.
• Route 3:Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) to Shiraz International Airport (SYZ)
  • The storm continued to disrupt travel across the Middle East, affecting connections from Istanbul to Shiraz, an important cultural and religious destination in Iran.

The Impact on Passengers

Thousands of passengers were affected by these cancellations. Passengers faced rebooking issues, long waits at airports, and overcrowding in airline offices as they struggled to find alternatives. Several flights had no available substitutes, causing them to miss connecting flights or miss out on scheduled appointments, business meetings, or family events.

In addition to this, accommodation at airports and hotels was limited, which further exacerbated the passenger chaos. Many travelers who had flown in from international destinations were forced to deal with the language barrier and customer service problems.

The Impact on Local Tourism

Bahrain:

Tourism in Bahrain was impacted as passengers looking to attend events, visit tourist attractions, or connect to other international flights were affected by delays and cancellations. This disruption also impacted local businesses dependent on international travel.

Iran:

In Iran, cities like Tehran, Mashhad, and Shiraz suffered, as they rely heavily on tourism from the Middle East. Events like religious pilgrimages, business conferences, and leisure travel were all affected, with tourism agencies struggling to accommodate canceled flights.

Turkey:

In Turkey, particularly Istanbul, the storm season also brought forth considerable impacts on the tourism sector, where the ongoing flow of tourists was halted. Visitors coming for historical sightseeing, business, and events were left stranded.

Turning Setbacks into Opportunities for Tourism Growth

While the cancellations caused significant distress, they also highlighted the need for more resilient tourism strategies. The government could consider investing in better airport infrastructure, better communication channels for airlines, and streamlined passenger services to prevent such issues from escalating in the future.

Additionally, improving weather prediction systems for the aviation industry will help airlines anticipate such disruptions and minimize passenger inconvenience. Tourism boards can also use this situation as an opportunity to enhance their crisis management strategies, ensuring smoother recovery from unforeseen events.

Navigating the Path Forward for Tourism Recovery

Despite the challenges, the tourism industry is resilient. As global travel continues to rebound, there are ways to mitigate the impact of flight cancellations. Airlines should invest in technology to optimize schedules, enhance customer service, and ensure better communication with passengers during crises. Tourists, too, can use this as an opportunity to plan with contingency measures in place, ensuring that they have a backup plan when weather disruptions strike.