Search

Qatar Airways Dominates Aircraft Storage Surge at Teruel Airport

  • Teruel Airport sees surge as Iran conflict disrupts Gulf airspace

  • Airlines store excess aircraft amid reduced regional operations

  • Qatar Airways leads influx with 22 jets parked at Teruel

In less than a week, Spain’s Teruel Airport (TEV), a remote airfield better known for aircraft storage than scheduled services, has seen an influx in traffic not seen since a certain pandemic grounded the vast majority of all global air traffic. And one airline stands out among the new arrivals—Qatar Airways (QR/QTR).  

The reason behind the exodus is of course the challenge presented by the escalating conflict in and around Iran. When the conflict turned red hot on February 28th, widespread airspace closures across the Persian Gulf followed. Carriers using the hubs in the region quickly had to reassess their capacity needs. Even though a few operators such as Emirates and Qatar have gradually ramped up operations since, airlines still find themselves in the unfortunate situation of having more aircraft at hand than they can utilize. And these aircraft need to be stored somewhere.

Teruel airport: Maintenance, storage, graveyard

Teruel is no stranger to moments like this. It became a name among aviation enthusiasts when the COVID-19 pandemic grounded fleets around the world, forcing operators to desperately seek long-term parking options for their metal birds. Teruel rose to the occasion and has been a trusted choice since. Sometimes referred to as a “boneyard”, many aircraft also make their final landing there before being dismantled and sold for parts and scrap. 

The area originally hosted the Caudé airfield, a military airfield used during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). After the war, it was from time to time used as a firing range by the Spanish Air Force. After years of renovation and construction, Teruel opened as a commercial center for primarily maintenance and storage in 2013. Several expansions later, the facilities now cover 5,400,000 m² (58,125,000 square feet).

TARMAC Aerosave utilizes the area’s dry climate to run a popular MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) unit and offering long-term storage space spacious enough to accommodate more than 120 aircraft at the time.

Teruel Airport Storage

A busy period at Teruel

Flightradar24 data shows 25 aircraft arrived at Teruel between March 16th and March 26th, without a planned departure date. A whopping 22 of them were Qatar Airways jets, with all but one delivered in a concentrated six-day surge between March 18–24th. And while their iconic oryx tail dominates current arrivals, strictly speaking, they aren’t sole tenants. British Airways has stored an A380-800 (G-XLEC) since March 16th. Azul ferried a A330-200 (PR-AIN) in from Brazil on March 20th. Finally, Air France delivered a 777-300ER (F-GZNO) on March 25th.

And the influx may not be over. With no immediate resolution in sight to ease tensions around the Gulf, Teruel is likely to see more arrivals shortly.

Teruel storage arrivals since March 16

RegistrationTypeOperatorArrivedOrigin
G-XLECA388British Airways16 Mar 2026London LHR
A7-ACUA332Qatar Airways18 Mar 2026Doha DOH
A7-ACWA332Qatar Airways18 Mar 2026Doha DOH
A7-ACXA332Qatar Airways18 Mar 2026Doha DOH
A7-AEPA333Qatar Airways18 Mar 2026Doha DOH
A7-AENA333Qatar Airways19 Mar 2026Cairo CAI
PR-AINA332Azul20 Mar 2026Campinas VCP
A7-APCA388Qatar Airways20 Mar 2026London LHR
A7-ALGA359Qatar Airways20 Mar 2026Nairobi NBO
A7-BHXB789Qatar Airways20 Mar 2026Johannesburg JNB
A7-ALTA359Qatar Airways20 Mar 2026Durban DUR
A7-ALLA359Qatar Airways20 Mar 2026Cape Town CPT
A7-AHJA320Qatar Airways21 Mar 2026Larnaca LCA
A7-ANTA35KQatar Airways21 Mar 2026Houston IAH
A7-ANGA35KQatar Airways21 Mar 2026Miami MIA
A7-ANSA35KQatar Airways21 Mar 2026São Paulo GRU
A7-BCVB788Qatar Airways21 Mar 2026Lagos LOS
A7-AEFA333Qatar Airways22 Mar 2026Doha DOH
A7-AEEA333Qatar Airways22 Mar 2026Doha DOH
A7-AEDA333Qatar Airways22 Mar 2026Doha DOH
A7-AEJA333Qatar Airways22 Mar 2026Doha DOH
A7-ANCA35KQatar Airways22 Mar 2026Los Angeles LAX
A7-AERA333Qatar Airways24 Mar 2026Warsaw WAW
F-GZNOB77WAir France25 Mar 2026Paris CDG
A7-AEQA333Qatar Airways26 Mar 2026Doha DOH

Join the conversation

2 Responses

  1. It’s interesting to see how geopolitical tensions can quickly reshape aviation operations, as evidenced by the sudden surge at Teruel Airport. Qatar Airways’ decision to park 22 jets there highlights the practical challenges airlines face when airspace restrictions disrupt core routes. The airport’s role as a go-to storage facility underscores how infrastructure can adapt to unexpected demand, even if it’s not typically a passenger hub.

  2. Hi
    Actually for Air France it’s not a storage
    Only paint working for 777 at Teruel

    AF not stored any aicraft related to gulf crisis

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related topics:

On The Radar Logo

Get the latest aviation news delivered to you

Get the latest aviation news delivered to you

Flight tracking and aviation industry news direct to your inbox

Aviation news comes quickly, so join more than 1.7 million others who receive weekly aviation industry and flight tracking news from Flightradar24 direct to their inbox.

Share this article

Trending articles

Latest video

Most wanted airport receiver locations

We’re always looking for additional receiver hosts in areas that either lack coverage or need additional coverage. Help us grow the Flightradar24 ADS-B network.

Latest threads

On The Radar Logo
Get weekly updates on Flightradar24 and have the latest aviation news land in your inbox.
AvTalk Logo

AvTalk Episode 365: Bag fees, bag fees, bag fees

Most wanted airport receiver locations

We’re always looking for additional receiver hosts in areas that either lack coverage or need additional coverage. Help us grow the Flightradar24 ADS-B network.

How flight tracking works

Flightradar24 combines data from several data sources including ADS-B, MLAT and radar data.

Search the blog

Follow us

AvTalk Podcasts

More stories
Fast and effective turnarounds are a key tool in an airline’s arsenal. From maintaining operational efficiency to saving passengers’ time and money, it’s an…
Lanzarote International Airport (ACE/GCRR) is the latest addition to our YouTube channel’s live streams, featuring a camera that broadcasts 24 hours a day, capturing…
In less than a week, Spain’s Teruel Airport (TEV), a remote airfield better known for aircraft storage than scheduled services, has seen an influx…
Flight tracking top 10 aircraft

Explore the top 10 most tracked aircraft and find out why these particular aircraft draw so much interest.

We are continually looking to improve our flight tracking and the airports below are where new receivers will add the most coverage. As a Flightradar24 receiver host you’ll also receive our complimentary Contributor Plan, including top-tier Flightradar24 features.

Free ADS-B Receiver
Flightradar24 logo
Try the full Flightradar24 experience free for 7 days
Remove ads and unlock over 50 additional features
Download the most trusted flight tracker app

Use your camera to scan the QR code below to download the Flightradar24 app.

On The Radar Logo

Flightradar24 aviation newsletter

Every week we’ll bring you some of the stories you may have missed, new or special flights to track, the best aviation photography, and tips for getting the most out of Flightradar24.