According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, continuing airspace restrictions in parts of the Middle East have forced airlines to adjust flight operations.
Between March 12 and 13, Qatar Airways cancelled 13 flights, including nine passenger services and four cargo flights, affecting nearly 2,000 passengers.
During the same period, Emirates cancelled flights EK364 and EK365 between Dubai and Ho Chi Minh City, affecting nearly 1,300 passengers. Other services, including EK392/EK393, EK394/EK395 and EK370/EK371, continued to operate.
Meanwhile, Etihad Airways resumed passenger flights EY430 and EY433 between Abu Dhabi and Hanoi from March 11 to 13, transporting nearly 1,000 passengers, while cargo flights remained on schedule.
The authority said the Doha Flight Information Region remained under restrictions as of March 11, limiting transit flights and allowing only a restricted number of arrivals and departures at Hamad International Airport through temporary air corridors.
In the Emirates Flight Information Region, partial airspace closures are still in effect, with flights permitted only on designated routes and transit traffic restricted to specific corridors under aviation notices.
The CAAV said Middle Eastern airspace has not yet returned to normal operations, with several flight information regions still imposing restrictions or partial closures, disrupting international air traffic and forcing airlines to adjust routes.
The authority also warned of continued pressure on aviation fuel supplies. Brent crude has fallen to around USD 88 per barrel, but Jet A1 aviation fuel closed at USD 142.99 on March 10, with the March average at USD 167.29 per barrel.
Domestic aviation fuel suppliers are working with partners to develop contingency plans and ensure stable supply for airline operations.
Currently, three Middle Eastern airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways, operate regular services to Vietnam, connecting Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Danang, with an average frequency of about 12 flights per day, or 84 per week.
These hubs play a key role in global aviation networks, particularly for routes linking Vietnam with Europe, North America and Africa.
Before the conflict, the three airlines operated more than 7,000 flights to and from Vietnam in 2025, carrying nearly 1.4 million passengers and more than 151,000 tonnes of cargo.
