Bahrain's Airspace: Why Is It So Vast?

In 2017, a Saudi-led blockade on the State of Qatar brought the distribution of airspace in the Gulf into the spotlight. Bahrain, along with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, closed its airspace to all Qatari-registered aircraft, a breach of the ICAO's Chicago Convention. This move highlighted Bahrain's possession of a vast amount of airspace compared to its size. The current distribution of Flight Information Regions (FIRs) in the Gulf dates back to when Bahrain and Qatar gained independence from the UK in 1971, and was based on the placement of military radars without considering the future development of Gulf airline carriers.

Bahrain's airspace is large compared to its size

The vastness of Bahrain's airspace is due to historical and administrative reasons. When Bahrain and Qatar gained independence from the UK in 1971, the Flight Information Region (FIR) shapes in the Gulf region were not altered. These FIR shapes, which define a country's airspace, were originally determined by the placement of military radars, which were positioned for military efficiency without considering the future development of Gulf airline carriers. As a result, Bahrain's airspace remained disproportionately large compared to the size of the country.

Maintaining the existing FIR shapes was also a matter of administrative convenience. Redistributing the airspace equally among the Gulf states would require flight crews to communicate with multiple air traffic controllers within a short period, creating operational complexities for both pilots and air traffic controllers. Therefore, the Gulf states opted to keep the existing airspace distribution despite the uneven allocation.

The significance of Bahrain's extensive airspace became evident during the 2017 blockade, as Qatar's airline industry heavily relied on flying through Bahrain's airspace due to its limited domestic airspace. This situation highlighted the impact of airspace distribution on the aviation capabilities and sovereignty of nations in the region.

The closure of Bahrain's airspace impacted Qatar

In 2017, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced the closure of their airspace to all Qatari-registered aircraft. This was a breach of the ICAO's Chicago Convention.

The closure of Bahrain's airspace had a significant impact on Qatar due to the small size of its own airspace, forcing the country's airline to rely on flying through Bahrain's comparatively larger airspace. This decision by Bahrain brought to light the significant (air) territorial power that the country held for around 50 years.

The distribution of airspace in the Gulf region remained unchanged since Qatar and Bahrain gained independence from the UK in 1971. The FIR shapes in the Gulf were initially determined based on military radar placements, without considering the future development of thriving Gulf airline carriers.

As a result of the airspace closure, Qatar Airways had to reroute many of its flights to avoid the restricted areas. For example, the overnight arrival from Johannesburg, QR1368, had to be rerouted via Oman and Iran to bypass Saudi airspace. Flights to and from Doha and Dubai, the busiest route in the region with almost 20 flights each way on a typical day, were among those affected.

The closure of Bahrain's airspace to Qatar had diplomatic implications, with Qatar being accused of supporting extremist groups and allegedly providing material support to ISIS and al-Qaeda. These allegations led to the severance of diplomatic ties and the expulsion of Qatari diplomats from Bahrain.

The distribution of airspace in the Gulf

The maintenance of the pre-existing airspace distribution in the Gulf was a matter of administrative convenience. Redistributing FIR areas equally among the Gulf states would require flight crews to communicate with multiple air traffic controllers within a short time frame, creating operational complexities for airlines.

The current distribution of airspace in the Gulf has had significant implications for Qatar. The closure of Bahrain's airspace as part of the blockade severely impacted Qatar's aviation industry, highlighting the vulnerability of relying on a neighbour's airspace.

The dispute over airspace in the Gulf has led to ongoing court cases at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), with Bahrain accused of breaching the Transit Agreement by discriminating against Qatari flights. While Bahrain has slightly eased restrictions, the majority of its airspace remains closed to Qatar, underscoring the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.

The history of good relations between Qatar and Bahrain

Bahrain and Qatar have a long history of territorial disputes and complex relations. However, there have also been periods of good relations between the two countries, particularly in the context of their shared regional affiliations and commitments to international agreements.

Both countries gained independence in 1971, and they share a similar history as part of the Persian Gulf region. They have the same first language, Arabic, and Islam as the state religion. Both are members of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and are signatories to the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Transit Agreement.

Despite periodic disputes, there have been periods of rapprochement and cooperation between Qatar and Bahrain. For example, in 1954, a settlement was reached regarding a dispute over the construction of a fort in Zubarah, a town on Qatar's northwest coast. Additionally, both countries have committed to enhancing Gulf unity and integration according to the GCC charter and have expressed a desire to increase trade and investment.

In April 2023, Bahrain and Qatar officially resumed diplomatic relations, two years after the Arab blockade on Qatar was resolved. This rapprochement is significant for improving Gulf Arab unity and coordination among the six GCC states. While challenges and tensions remain, the restoration of relations between the two countries demonstrates a commitment to pragmatism and diplomacy in the region.

The impact of the Gulf Crisis on Bahrain's airspace

In June 2017, a Saudi-led blockade on the State of Qatar brought the distribution of airspace in the Gulf region into focus. The Gulf states of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt issued NOTAMS (notices to flight crew) announcing the immediate closure of their airspace to all Qatari-registered aircraft, in breach of the ICAO's Chicago Convention. This marked a critical juncture for Qatar as, due to its small airspace, its airline relied heavily on flying through Bahrain's comparatively larger airspace.

The closure of Bahrain's airspace to Qatari aircraft highlighted the significant (air) territorial power that Bahrain had possessed for the past 50 years. This power dynamic can be traced back to the independence of Bahrain and Qatar from the UK in 1971, when there was no change to the FIR shapes in the Gulf region. These FIR shapes, or "flight information region" shapes, had been determined based on the placement of military radars, without considering the future development of Gulf airline carriers. As a result, Bahrain inherited a vast amount of airspace, which it later used to its advantage during the geopolitical dispute with Qatar.

In January 2021, the Gulf Crisis officially ended, and Bahrain removed Qatar from its banned list, improving diplomatic relations. However, Bahrain was the last Gulf country to open its airspace to Qatar, even after the end of the diplomatic crisis. This highlights the complicated nature of their bilateral relationship and the lingering tensions between the two countries.

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