In the midst of this turmoil, Ershad Kaleebullah, a tech content creator from Pune, who found himself at Hamad International Airport in Qatar, took to social media to praise Qatar Airways and the airport staff for their exceptional handling of the situation.
He noted that food vouchers were issued to all passengers trapped at the airport, which could be redeemed at the food court for any meal. “Food vouchers were given to everyone at the airport. You could redeem them at the food court for all your meals, no exceptions,” he shared.
“We decided to stay in the lounge until the airspace reopened. In fact, we went to sleep around 10:30 PM. At 12:30 AM, the lounge staff woke us up and guided us to the transfer desk. The entire airport was being evacuated, including staff. Everything was managed seamlessly,” he added.
This is an appreciation post for @qatarairways and @HIAQatar.
– Food coupons were distributed to everyone at the airport. You could just redeem them at the food court for all meals, no less.– We chose to stay in the lounge until the airspace opened. In fact, we went… pic.twitter.com/ReWr1PDB2U
— Ershad Kaleebullah (@r3dash) March 1, 2026
He also mentioned that passengers received assistance with accommodations in Doha, including stays in several five-star hotels with meals provided for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
“Rooms have been arranged in various five-star hotels throughout Doha with breakfast, lunch, and dinner all included. We’ve been assured our stay and meals will be covered until the airspace reopens,” he added.
He commended the staff, saying, “Every staff member was attentive and responded to questions with a smile. Even if they didn’t have immediate answers, they made us feel very at ease.”
Another traveler shared with Khaleej Times that he and his family were stranded on Saturday when their flight to Bangalore was canceled. He remarked they had just arrived in the UAE last week and were preparing to return when they discovered at the airport that all flights were canceled.
Sirens rang out, and they received alerts on their phones advising them to seek shelter. “A few hours later, the airport provided free meals and hotel vouchers to assist stranded passengers,” he noted.
He stated his family was transported to the hotel via a school bus, and everyone at the airport was very accommodating. He described the staff as “very supportive,” adding that since the airspace remained closed, their flight voucher was extended for an additional day at no extra cost.
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) reported that over 20,000 passengers have been impacted by the recent flight rescheduling.
The UAE government has officially declared it will cover the accommodation, meal, and rebooking expenses for around 20,000 stranded travelers. According to the announcement from the GCAA, this initiative aims to assist passengers affected by rescheduled or canceled flights, as detailed in a report by TOI.
Through the activation of a comprehensive emergency relief plan, the state is directly managing all hosting and accommodation expenses at major hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, ensuring that passengers are not saddled with unexpected costs. This government-led initiative includes offering temporary hotel stays, meals, and refreshments for travelers. To maintain order amid the chaos, airport authorities and national carriers are collaborating to streamline rebooking processes and coordinate logistics.
Furthermore, accommodations and transportation are being arranged to ensure the safety and well-being of transit passengers.
