Jazeera Airways Restarts Umrah Charters via Saudi Arabia

Kuwait-based low-cost carrier Jazeera Airways has resumed Umrah charter operations to Saudi Arabia despite the continued closure of Kuwaiti airspace following the escalation of conflict involving Iran. The airline restarted services on March 3, 2026, operating flights directly between Saudi Arabia and Russia rather than routing them through Kuwait as previously scheduled.

The disruption began on February 28 when Kuwait closed its airspace amid regional security concerns tied to the ongoing conflict. As a result, several Jazeera Airways aircraft were left stranded outside the country. The airline has now deployed those aircraft to operate charter services connecting Saudi cities with Russian destinations, allowing the carrier to maintain limited operations while Kuwait’s airspace remains inaccessible.

According to industry analyst Brendan Sobie, Jazeera Airways is currently using Airbus A320 family aircraft positioned outside Kuwait to run these charter flights. Among the aircraft in operation are Airbus A320-200 9K-CAT and Airbus A320neo aircraft 9K-CBF and 9K-CBK. These jets are now operating charter services from Jeddah International Airport and Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah to destinations in Russia.

Another Airbus A320-200, registered as 9K-CAR, remains parked in Jeddah and has not yet returned to active service. The use of aircraft already outside Kuwait has allowed the airline to continue transporting Umrah pilgrims and charter passengers while avoiding the operational constraints created by the regional airspace shutdown.

The broader aviation disruption has affected multiple Gulf carriers as airspace closures and security measures continue to reshape flight routes and schedules. Kuwait Airways has also taken steps to operate limited charter services despite the restrictions. The national carrier recently reactivated Boeing 777-300ER aircraft 9K-AOC to conduct a repatriation charter flight from London Heathrow to Dammam, marking the first such operation since the conflict began.

Airspace over Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar remains closed to civilian flights as regional authorities maintain heightened security measures. The closures have forced airlines to suspend services, reroute flights, or reposition aircraft across the region.

Some recovery is beginning elsewhere in the Gulf. Following a partial reopening of United Arab Emirates airspace, Etihad Airways has resumed selected commercial flights, joining Emirates in gradually restoring services. Both airlines have reopened bookings for certain routes as operations slowly stabilize.

However, aviation activity across the Middle East continues to face uncertainty, with airlines closely monitoring airspace availability and adjusting schedules to maintain operations where possible. The situation remains fluid as regional authorities assess security conditions and air traffic capacity.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com