Etihad extends waiver
Etihad extended its travel waiver for passengers affected by Middle East airspace disruptions through April 15, 2026, and Bahrain has joined other countries imposing airspace restrictions. Qatar Airways is still operating flights to 90 destinations as of mid‑March 2026, but carriers warn routes can change — check live updates before booking. ( )
Passengers holding Etihad tickets issued on or before 28 February 2026 are eligible for free rebooking onto Etihad‑operated services and may move disrupted itineraries into mid‑May 2026 without paying change fees. (gulfnews.com) Etihad has said affected travellers can also request full refunds or one complimentary date change, and the airline’s customer‑service channels confirmed the policy update overnight on 20 March 2026. (visahq.com) Codeshare tickets are included under the flexible handling rules when the ticket stock begins with the carrier code “607,” a detail flagged by Etihad and third‑party mobility advisers handling corporate bookings. (visahq.com) Bahrain International Airport reported a drone attack on 1 March 2026 that caused minor material damage and authorities have suspended flight operations while the kingdom’s airspace remains closed. (gulfnews.com) The airport formalised a “suspended flights until further notice” status and the U.S. Department of State and FAA have issued aviation advisories and guidance citing elevated risks to civil aviation in Bahrain. (timeoutbahrain.com) (travel.state.gov) Qatar Airways’ 26 March timetable increase restored additional frequencies to more than 90 destinations and the carrier said its revised schedule is valid through 15 April 2026, with all Doha flights routed via dedicated corridors agreed with the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority. (qatarairways.com) Airlines and airports are explicitly warning that routings and frequencies remain highly fluid, urging passengers to confirm bookings on airline apps and update contact details because call centres are experiencing very high volumes and schedules can change at short notice. (qatarairways.com) (gulfnews.com)
