In the midst of this turmoil, Ershad Kaleebullah, a tech content creator from Pune stuck at Hamad International Airport in Qatar, took to social media to praise Qatar Airways and the airport staff for their efforts.
He noted that food coupons were given to all stranded passengers, redeemable at the airport food court for each meal. “Food coupons were handed out to everyone at the airport. You could simply redeem them at the food court for all meals,” he stated.
“We chose to remain in the lounge until the airspace reopened. We actually went to sleep around 10:30 PM. At 12:30 AM, the lounge staff woke us up and instructed us to move to the transfer desk. The entire airport was being evacuated, including the staff. Everything went smoothly,” he elaborated.
This is an appreciation post for @qatarairways and @HIAQatar.
– Food coupons were handed out to everyone at the airport. You could simply redeem them at the food court for all meals.– We decided to wait in the lounge until the airspace reopened. 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 rooms at several five-star hotels along with three meals a day.
“Rooms have been arranged at various five-star properties throughout Doha. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all covered. We have been assured that our stay and meals will be managed until airspace is reinstated,” he added.
Kaleebullah commended the staff, stating, “Every single staff member was attentive and answered questions with a smile. Even if they didn’t have answers… they made us feel very comfortable.”
Another passenger recounted to Khaleej Times that he and his family were stranded on Saturday after their flight to Bangalore was canceled. They had arrived in the UAE last week, ready to return home when they discovered all flights were canceled at the airport.
As sirens blared, they received alerts on their phones to seek shelter. “Hours later, the airport provided free meals and hotel vouchers for stranded passengers,” he said.
His family was transported to a hotel in a school bus, and he remarked that everyone at the airport was helpful. He found the staff to be “very supportive,” and since the airspace remained closed, their flight voucher was extended for an additional day at no extra charge.
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) reported that over 20,000 passengers have been impacted by flight rescheduling to date.
The UAE government has officially stated that it will cover all costs for accommodation, meals, and rebooking for approximately 20,000 stranded passengers. This initiative, announced by the GCAA, aims to assist those affected by rescheduled or canceled flights, as reported by TOI.
By implementing a wide-ranging emergency relief plan, the state is directly funding all accommodation and hosting expenses at key hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, ensuring passengers do not face unexpected fees. This state-led effort includes providing temporary hotel stays, meals, and refreshments. Aviation authorities and national carriers are working collaboratively to facilitate rebooking processes and manage logistics amid the chaos.
Furthermore, accommodations and transportation are being arranged to ensure the safety and well-being of transit passengers.
