Passengers diverted due to Iranian strike on US airbase were on new flights within 24 hours, says Qatar Airways CEO
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
Around 20,000 passengers who witnessed flight diversions following an Iranian missile strike on the US Al Udeid Airbase on Monday (June 23) were put on new flights within 24 hours, Badr Al Meer, Qatar Airways ' chief executive, said on Wednesday (June 25, 2025)."This week brought an operational crisis few airlines will ever encounter, and one that challenged the very core of what it means to run a global airline,' Al Meer said in a statement, The National reported. Tehran responded to the US attacks on its nuclear facilities and launched a missile strike on the Al Udeid Airbase in Qatar, escalating tensions in the gulf region amid the Israel-Iran conflict Following Iran's retaliation against Washington, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria all shut their airspaces. Besides this, airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai delayed operations.Al Meer stated that more than 90 Qatar Airways flights to Doha were 'forced to divert immediately.' According to The National, at least 25 flights went to Saudi Arabia, 18 went to Turkey, 15 to India, 13 to Oman, and five to the UAE. Other aircraft were rerouted to locations across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.The Qatar Airways chief further said that around 151 Qatar Airways flights faced immediate disruptions and that the airline had no option but to adapt in real 'time—'without precedent and without pause.'Over 10,000 passengers were also present at the Hamad International Airport. 'They found themselves caught in the middle of one of the most severe and complex operational challenges in modern aviation history,' Al Meer said, according to The National.He said that more than 11,000 passengers resumed their travel on Tuesday morning (June 24, 2025). Meanwhile, others departed later that evening and on Wednesday morning. 'As of today, there are no passengers from diverted flights left stranded,' Al Meer claimed.Besides Qatar Airways, other airlines, including Emirates, had also sprung into action, suspending, delaying, cancelling, or rerouting flights in the Gulf region due to the Iranian strike. Etihad Airways cancelled services to and from Tel Aviv until July 15.Emirates on Tuesday said its passengers experienced minimal disruptions after scheduled flights resumed within a few hours. Meanwhile, Dubai-based airline flydubai said it would resume operations to Damascus starting on Thursday. It said it plans to resume its full schedule from July 1.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
40 minutes ago
- India.com
Trump's Controversial ‘One Big Beautiful Bill' Passed: Mass Deportations, Iran Bombings And $4.5 Trillion Tax Push Now Law
Washington D.C.: Independence Day is around the corner. For Donald Trump, it just came early. On the floor of the House, fireworks erupted in a different form. The U.S. president's flagship tax-and-spending bill, sprawling over 869 pages, scraped through by the thinnest of margins – 218 to 214. A late-night sprint of backdoor huddles, angry phone calls and closed-door persuasion flipped the final few Republican holdouts. Now, the bill heads to Trump's desk, just in time for July 4. This is not merely a budget. It is a war chest. The bill unlocks billions for mass deportations, slashes into food assistance and Medicaid and renews Trump's signature tax cuts. At the center of it all – a radical reshaping of America's future and a nod to Trump's renewed hardline on global power projection. Just last week, U.S. warplanes bombed Iranian nuclear facilities. The strikes were swift, silent and left Tehran in damage-control mode. Trump hailed the mission as decisive. Behind closed doors, he reportedly called it a 'warning shot to the world'. The new spending bill backs that message with money – billions in fresh military funds, a promise of dominance by air and an agenda fuelled by an unapologetic sense of vengeance. The military boost is not only about defense. It is a signal to rivals like Iran, Russia and China. Trump wants to make sure the next strike, if needed, does not wait for Congressional hesitation. That message comes bundled with one for the southern border too. Deportation plans now have their biggest budget yet. Buses, detention centers, legal teams – everything greenlit. But the price? Over $3.4 trillion in added debt across 10 years. Millions could lose health coverage. Rural hospitals may go dark. Entire families depending on Medicaid face uncertainty. Cuts hit deep, especially in regions already reeling from economic stagnation. Trump's allies call it 'tough love'. His critics call it sabotage. Speaker Mike Johnson called it the 'cornerstone of a new American Golden Age'. The name of the bill? 'One Big Beautiful Bill.' Grand, brash and unmistakably Trump. The Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries, spent nearly nine hours talking nonstop in protest. His filibuster did not stop the vote, but it sent a message. He read letters from farmers, veterans, single mothers – stories buried beneath the weight of spreadsheets and slogans. While Republicans wrestled over whether to cut too little or too much, Trump played kingmaker. He dialed lawmakers, hosted late-night dinners and reminded them what defiance costs in his party. In the end, they listened. Now, the country watches. The checks are signed. The strikes are real. The fallout – political, financial and global – is coming. For Trump, it is a legacy. For millions, it is a test.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Bajaj, Ather, TVS to cut output amid rare earth magnet shortage on China restrictions
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Mumbai | New Delhi: India's top electric two-wheeler makers, including Bajaj Auto Ather Energy and TVS Motor Company , are set to cut production this month due to a prolonged disruption in the supply of heavy rare earth (HRE) magnets from shortage, now in its fourth month, is threatening to slow the sector's rapid growth, industry executives said. Bajaj Auto , India's second-largest EV two-wheeler maker, is likely to halve its output, while Bengaluru-based Ather Energy plans to scale down production by 8-10%, people familiar with the developments told ET. TVS, which has topped sales for three consecutive months, is also expected to pare three firms are grappling with the shortage of HRE magnets, critical for electric traction motors."The disruptions in the EV supply chain, particularly concerning magnet availability, continue to pose challenges in the short to medium term," a TVS Motor spokesperson said. "We are working actively to mitigate the prevailing challenges."Former market leader Ola Electric, however, said it will maintain production uninterrupted, having stockpiled rare earth magnets ahead of time."There is no impact on production because of the rare earth magnets," an Ola Electric spokesperson said, declining to elaborate four firms account for eight out of every ten e-two wheelers sold in the local market."We've started to see some production disruption on the Chetak line," said Rakesh Sharma, executive director at Bajaj Auto. "Our R&D and procurement teams are working on alternatives, which are now in advanced stages of development," he email sent to Ather remained unanswered until press time automobile industry and the central government have been holding discussions with Chinese authorities to restore supplies of rare earth elements (REEs) and magnets and also have initiated negotiations with alternative suppliers like Vietnam, Indonesia and Japan. However, the shortage is persisting."There has been no progress on resuming magnet imports from China," said a senior industry executive. "TVS, Bajaj, and Ather are the first to be hit, but the entire segment could face disruption if the issue drags on."In June, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) had warned that if supplies did not resume soon, manufacturers could be forced to scale back output due to dwindling inventories."If the current standoff continues, the EV sector's momentum could lose steam just as it begins to scale up," a top executive at a leading original equipment maker (OEM) told ET on condition of challenge comes at a time when the electric two-wheeler market continues to gain traction. Their sales surged 34% year-on-year in the first quarter of FY26 to about 298,000 units, according to data from the government's Vahan Ola has an inventory of rare earth magnet to last at least five to six months and it's also working on alternate supply chain solutions, people aware of the company's plans said. The company may even marginally increase production in July, they said.A lesser impact on Ola also comes against the backdrop of the company's underperformance. Ola Electric slipped to third place in June for the second straight month.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Forbes unveils 50 richest self-made women of 2025: China and Hong Kong lead, US follows, tech dominates
Forbes has released its landmark 2025 ranking of the world's 50 richest self-made women, revealing a striking global trend: China and Hong Kong together account for 18 of the 50 women on the list—the highest representation by any region. The United States is the second-highest, with 16 women featured, reflecting both regions' deep-rooted entrepreneurial cultures and global influence. This elite group, spanning 13 countries and four continents, collectively holds approximately $276 billion in wealth, with an average net worth of $5.5 billion. The minimum net worth to make the list is $2.1 billion. Their fortunes cover 14 different industries, with technology standing out as the most dominant sector. Retail, real estate, and manufacturing also feature prominently. 'Self-made women now constitute 3.5% of all billionaires—a modest figure, but about 50% higher than in 2017,' Forbes notes, highlighting both progress and the persistent gender wealth gap . Meet the top 5 Rafaela Aponte-Diamant leads the list, having co-founded the Mediterranean Shipping Company, now the world's largest shipping line with over 136,000 employees and 900 vessels. She started with a $200,000 loan and remains active at age 80, overseeing ship interiors and serving on the MSC Foundation board. Diane Hendricks is the wealthiest American, co-founding ABC Supply, a giant in roofing and siding distribution. Zhong Huijuan is China's richest self-made woman, having built Hansoh Pharmaceuticals into a $1.7 billion revenue powerhouse, focusing on oncology and autoimmune treatments. Zhou Qunfei is the world's richest self-made woman in tech, running Lens Technology, a key supplier for Apple, Samsung , and Tesla. Melanie Perkins, at 38, is the youngest, having co-founded Canva, the design software sensation. Technology leads the way Among the 50 richest self-made women, technology is the leading sector, with 14 women generating their fortunes in this field. Notably, Zhou Qunfei of Hong Kong, valued at approximately $10 billion, heads Hunan-based Lens Technology, a major supplier of touch screens to global giants like Apple, Samsung, and Tesla. The tech sector's dominance is further underscored by the presence of several founders and executives in software, IT, and electronics manufacturing, reflecting the transformative impact of technology on global wealth creation for women. The gender wealth gap Despite the increasing number of women entering entrepreneurship and achieving billionaire status, a significant disparity persists between men and women at the top. The 50 richest self-made men globally are collectively worth $3.8 trillion—14 times greater than the combined wealth of the 50 wealthiest women. Furthermore, men control 96% of the world's self-made billionaire wealth, with women holding just 4%. There are 1,920 male self-made billionaires worldwide, compared to a much smaller number of women, underscoring the ongoing challenges to gender parity in global wealth. Live Events The 50 richest self-made women of 2025 Rafaela Aponte-Diamant (Switzerland) – Shipping Diane Hendricks (United States) – Building supplies Zhong Huijuan (China) – Pharmaceuticals Zhou Qunfei (Hong Kong) – Smartphone screens Denise Coates (United Kingdom) – Online gambling Judy Faulkner (United States) – Healthcare software Wang Laichun (Hong Kong) – Electronics components Marian Ilitch & family (United States) – Little Caesars Pizza Ling Tang (Canada) – Marketing software, mobile games Lynda Resnick (United States) – Agriculture Wu Yajun (China) – Real estate Thai Lee (United States) – IT provider Melanie Perkins (Australia) – Software Elizabeth Uihlein (United States) – Packaging materials Zhou Chaonan (China) – Manufacturing Marina Budiman (Indonesia) – Data centers Dewi Kam (Indonesia) – Coal Tatyana Kim (Russia) – E-commerce Gail Miller & family (United States) – Car dealerships Fan Daidi (China) – Skincare Fan Hongwei (China) – Petrochemicals Jayshree Ullal (United States) – Computer networking Eren Ozmen (United States) – Aerospace Johnelle Hunt (United States) – Trucking Chan Laiwa & family (China) – Real estate Meg Whitman (United States) – eBay / Tech Maggie Gu (China) – Shein (fast fashion) Molly Miao (China) – Shein (fast fashion) Giuliana Benetton (Italy) – Fashion retail, investments Peggy Cherng (United States) – Fast food (Panda Express) Falguni Nayar (India) – Retailing (Nykaa) Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (India) – Biopharmaceuticals Maritsa Lazari & family (United Kingdom) – Real estate Weili Dai (United States) – Semiconductors Jian Jun (China) – Biomedical products Lam Wai-ying (Hong Kong) – Smartphone screens Oprah Winfrey (United States) – TV shows / Media Cheng Xue (China) – Soy sauce Zhao Yan (China) – Biotech Safra Catz (United States) – Software Pan Dong (Canada) – Consumer goods Anna Angelicoussis & family (Greece) – Shipping Barbara Banke & family (United States) – Wine Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao (Vietnam) – Airlines Solina Chau (Hong Kong) – Investments Sheryl Sandberg (United States) – Facebook / Tech Rita Tong Liu (Hong Kong) – Real estate Ye Qiongjiu (China) – Software Susan Ocampo & family (United States) – Semiconductors Chu Lam Yiu (Hong Kong) – Flavorings
