Gulf Airlines Are Bouncing Back As Iran Attacks Continue

The skies over the region may have faced serious turbulence recently, but Gulf airlines are proving they’re built for resilience. Following a period marked by airspace closures, direct attacks on airport infrastructure, and a sharp drop in travel demand, airlines across the region have continued to operate wherever possible, and now, they’re steadily finding their way back.

According to new data from Flightradar24, recovery is already in motion.

To measure how airlines are bouncing back, Flightradar24 introduced the Gulf Airline Recovery Index (GARI).

The idea is simple: Each airline’s average number of daily flights before the crisis is set as a benchmark of 100. From there, current flight activity is measured against that baseline. So, the closer an airline gets back to 100, the closer it is to operating at normal, pre-disruption levels.

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The Flightradar24 Gulf airline recovery index for 28 March. https://t.co/jV2hBcch1o pic.twitter.com/HZyRyKkz28

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 29, 2026

Here’s how Gulf airlines are performing right now

The index currently tracks five major regional carriers:

• Emirates
• Air Arabia
• Etihad Airways
• flydubai
• Qatar Airways

As of March 28, the data shows clear momentum across the board, with some airlines recovering faster than others

Before the disruptions, all airlines were operating at full capacity — that’s the index value of 100. But once the situation escalated on February 28, 2026, flight activity dropped dramatically across the board, in some cases nearly to zero.

Since then, recovery has been gradual:

• Emirates: hovering around 65–75
• Air Arabia: around 50–55
• Etihad Airways: around 45–55
• flydubai: around 30–40
• Qatar Airways: around 20–30

While not back to normal just yet, the upward trend is clear. What this data really highlights is the resilience of the region’s aviation sector. Even in the face of major challenges, flights never fully stopped, and recovery is well underway. With demand gradually returning and restrictions easing, Gulf airlines are once again filling the skies… one flight at a time