Doha, March 23 (QNA) - Qatar's civil aviation authority has said the country's air transport sector remains under "full operational control" despite heightened regional tensions and unprecedented risks to airspace safety.

In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Acting President of the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) Mohammed bin Faleh Al Hajri said operations continue to be managed according to the highest safety and efficiency standards, even as the region faces significant security challenges.

He described a phased response to the crisis, based on continuous risk assessment. This approach led to the partial reopening of Qatar's airspace on March 7, following an initial precautionary closure at the start of the crisis. Flights have since resumed on a limited basis using designated air corridors, under strict monitoring and in coordination with the armed forces.

Al Hajri said recent Iranian attacks had a "direct and tangible" impact on the region's aviation environment, including Qatari airspace. He warned of sharply increased risks posed by drones, missiles and debris from air defense systems, as well as operational hazards such as aircraft misidentification or flying in restricted or high-risk airspace zones.

Authorities have treated Qatar's airspace as a highly sensitive operational environment, restricting flights to approved routes and carefully controlled capacities. Initial operations focused on evacuation flights and cargo services, with a gradual increase in civil air traffic aimed at maintaining essential connectivity and supply chains.

The official added that QCAA and Qatar Airways had worked closely with national partners to assist stranded passengers and sustain cargo operations, ensuring the continued flow of essential goods into the country.

He said a range of contingency measures had been introduced, including revising emergency plans, tightening air traffic procedures and expanding reliance on overseas maintenance providers. Qatar Airways was also authorized to operate maintenance stations abroad to support aircraft stranded, numbering 188 in total.

At Hamad International Airport, aircraft were repositioned to safer locations, firefighting units redeployed and construction on one runway temporarily suspended. Emergency planning notices were also issued to guide staff and passengers to safe areas in the airport if needed.

Despite the challenges, Al Hajri stressed that all operational decisions are being taken on vocational  grounds, with safety remaining the top priority, as authorities continue to navigate a rapidly evolving and high-risk environment.

Regarding civil aviation security, Al Hajri said that QCAA has strengthened security procedures by activating communication channels around the clock, increasing inspection and patrol operations, and dealing with potential risks such as falling debris, in addition to sharing a regional regulatory document with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and countries of the region on managing airport security during conflicts, as well as monitoring and analyzing information received from civil aviation authorities in neighboring countries and international organizations to assess risks and issue the necessary directives.

He pointed out that in the field of firefighting and rescue, the emergency plan was activated to ensure a permanent presence in the airport's security operations room, thus ensuring an immediate response to any emergency.

He also indicated that dealing with potential risks is done according to an integrated institutional methodology for risk management based on continuous assessment and taking clear mitigation measures, including identifying approved air corridors that are subject to close monitoring, continuous coordination between civil and military authorities, applying a mechanism for prior approvals for each flight, enhancing fuel plans and identifying alternative airports, providing special briefings to aircrews, and implementing exceptional operational procedures.

Al Hajri underscored that securing Qatari airspace is done through a multi-layered system that includes advanced radar systems, continuous airspace coverage, real-time tracking of all flights, and the application of precise standards for separation and distancing between aircraft, in addition to direct coordination with military authorities, linking with joint operations centers and sharing flight plans in advance, which forms an integrated system that ensures the highest levels of security and safety.

He emphasized that emergency plans have been activated in various sectors of civil aviation, where in the field of aviation security, emergency contact points have been activated around the clock, evacuation plans have been implemented, entry points to airport facilities have been reduced, and the number of employees has been reduced to a minimum to avoid any operational disruption. In the field of air safety, approved plans have been implemented to ensure the continuity of vital operations and enhance coordination between the concerned parties.

He added that the guidance material for the emergency plan for airspace management was issued, which included coordination and notification mechanisms between the concerned authorities and the crisis management cell, in addition to issuing an air circular regarding air navigation emergency procedures to enhance readiness for managing air traffic in emergency situations within the Doha Flight Information Region.

Al Hajri noted that in the field of air navigation, operational emergency plans were activated immediately, which include the immediate management of air traffic and diversion of flights when needed, limited operation through precautionary air corridors, application of prior approvals for each flight, regulation of traffic through specific operational windows, strengthening of fuel plans and alternative airports, and activation of direct communication channels between the concerned parties.

He stressed that the air traffic control system in the State of Qatar operates at a high level of readiness and professionalism, and includes comprehensive coverage of the airspace, accurate real-time tracking of all flights, and the application of improved procedures for separation and distancing between aircraft, in addition to the readiness of human resources to work under high operational pressure, and direct integration with military authorities, which contributed to managing the situation with high efficiency.

He pointed out that QCAA periodically conducts exercises and simulations of emergency scenarios within the safety management system and national emergency plans, including partial or total airspace closure, loss of communications, working within environments with security or military restrictions, and coordination between civil and military authorities, while ensuring that lessons are learned and these exercises are continuously developed.

He indicated that in the aviation security sector, exercises are carried out within the airport's emergency plans, with the effectiveness of procedures being documented and updated to suit changes, to ensure the highest levels of readiness and efficiency.

Concluding his remarks to QNA, Al Hajri affirmed the readiness of QCAA and the continuity of work and monitoring of all developments around the clock. He emphasized that the safety and security of civil aviation in the State of Qatar is a top priority, and that all operational decisions are taken based on a precise professional assessment of risks and in full coordination with the relevant national authorities. He noted that what has been achieved during this stage reflects the state's ability to manage exceptional circumstances efficiently and professionally, while continuously benefiting from past experiences to enhance future readiness. (QNA)