Amid Missiles and Closed Skies: The Inside Story of Oman Air’s Role in Repatriating 90,000+ Stranded Travelers

The crisis began on February 28, 2026, with US and Israeli strikes on Iran, followed by Iranian retaliatory attacks on US bases in the Gulf. This escalation triggered an unprecedented shutdown of commercial aviation across the region.

Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Iran all closed their airspace completely. The UAE imposed a temporary but sweeping closure of its airspace, grounding flights at the world’s busiest international airports — Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International (AUH).

More than 2,800 flights were canceled in the initial days. Aviation analytics firm Cirium estimated that at least 90,000 people change flights daily through Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi airports alone. Tens of thousands of travelers — from tourists and businesspeople to religious pilgrims — were suddenly stranded across the Middle East.

Oman Air’s Operational Response: Keeping the Lights On

Amid this regional paralysis, Oman Air emerged as a critical exception. While most Gulf carriers halted operations entirely, Oman Air made the strategic decision to maintain a significant portion of its network.

Initial Suspensions and Rapid Resumption

Initially, Oman Air suspended flights to specific high-risk destinations, including Baghdad, and to regional cities such as Dubai, Doha, and Kuwait due to those countries’ airspace closures. However, the airline confirmed that:

“All other flights are operating as scheduled.”

Crucially, this included vital long-haul routes such as its twice-daily return flights between Muscat and London Heathrow, as well as services from major Indian cities including Delhi.

Ramping Up Capacity for the Stranded

Recognizing the surge in demand from people desperate to leave the region, Oman Air expanded operations significantly. The airline ramped up services to 10 Indian cities and key global destinations.

Sources confirmed that several India-bound flights previously suspended during the holy month of Ramzan were reinstated to meet the emergency demand. Additional staff were deployed at airports to manage the sudden influx of passengers.

The Muscat Land Bridge: A Vital Artery for the Stranded

With UAE airports closed, Muscat quickly became the most viable alternative for hundreds of thousands of travelers. A “land bridge” strategy emerged: fly into Muscat using Oman Air and complete the journey to the UAE by road.

The Road Journey

Stranded expats and visitors from countries including India, the UK, and the United States booked flights on Oman Air from cities like Delhi to Muscat. After landing at Muscat International Airport, they arranged ground transport for the approximately 400–450 km journey to Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

The drive typically took five to six hours including border formalities and became the only workable option for thousands seeking to reunite with their families.

“I was scheduled to return on Sunday, but due to airport closures I couldn’t travel. Fortunately, Oman Air was operating, so I booked a ticket from Delhi to Muscat.”

— Imteyaz Ahmad, Indian expat and managing director of a Dubai-based firm

Ahmad described the flight as unusually empty, with only about 15 to 30 passengers onboard — a stark contrast to normal occupancy levels.

Supporting Transit and Documentation

The Omani government worked closely with Oman Air to facilitate the movement of stranded travelers. Transit documentation was simplified for expatriates from other GCC countries.

Free transit passes were offered to GCC residents.
Others were charged a nominal fee of 5 Omani rials.
The process streamlined border crossings for travelers heading between Oman and the UAE.

This pragmatic approach allowed people on dependent and visit visas to travel smoothly by road between the UAE and Muscat to catch outbound flights.

A Hub for International Repatriation Efforts

Oman Air’s operational flights effectively turned Muscat International Airport into a major hub for global repatriation efforts. Governments worldwide began chartering aircraft or booking commercial seats to bring their citizens home.

European Evacuations

Italy: Two flights transported 249 Italian citizens from Muscat to Rome with support from the Italian foreign ministry.
France: A plane carrying French citizens from Oman (and later Egypt) landed in Paris early Wednesday, March 4 — the first of several government-organized evacuations.
United Kingdom: The UK government chartered flights from Muscat to evacuate British nationals, while British Airways added scheduled flights to London Heathrow.

Global Reach

Russia: Russia’s transport ministry reported 24 flights from the UAE and Oman bringing back around 4,500 people.
Ireland: Plans were made to charter a flight for approximately 280 people stranded in the region.
United States: The State Department began organizing charter flights from several locations including Oman.

A Lifeline for Vulnerable Travelers

Among the thousands who used Oman Air during the crisis were several vulnerable groups:

Umrah Pilgrims: Many travelers stranded in Saudi Arabia after Umrah pilgrimages flew to Muscat to catch flights home.
Students: Students visiting family in the UAE used the road route through Oman to reach home in time for critical exams.
Families and Medical Cases: Evacuation flights prioritized families with children, elderly passengers, and those with medical conditions.

Safety, Communication, and Passenger Support

Commitment to Safety

Throughout the crisis, Oman Air emphasized that passenger and crew safety remained its top priority.

“The safety and well-being of guests and crew remain our highest priority.”

The airline stated that it was continuously monitoring the situation in coordination with relevant authorities.

Flexible Policies for Affected Passengers

Passengers whose flights were canceled were offered rebooking options or full refunds.
Travelers were advised to check flight status online before heading to airports.
Official channels and the airline’s website were used to provide real-time updates.

Supporting Staff and Operations

To manage the surge in passengers rerouting through Muscat, additional staff were deployed and operations were strengthened to maintain smooth airport processes.

Conclusion: A Mission Beyond Profit

In a region where commercial aviation had ground to a near standstill, Oman Air demonstrated a mission that extended beyond commercial interests.

By keeping aircraft flying and expanding services to key destinations such as India and Europe, the airline:

Enabled thousands of stranded travelers to escape the conflict zone.
Supported national evacuation operations worldwide.
Helped reconnect families and ensured students and workers could return home.
Maintained critical economic and humanitarian links during the crisis.

As one stranded American traveler who secured a last-minute flight to India via Muscat described it, the journey was long and exhausting, but the relief of finally leaving the region was immeasurable.

Oman Air’s operational resilience and commitment to service ultimately transformed the airline into a genuine lifeline during one of the most severe aviation disruptions in recent Middle Eastern history.