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.
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
| Registration | Type | Operator | Arrived | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G-XLEC | A388 | British Airways | 16 Mar 2026 | London LHR |
| A7-ACU | A332 | Qatar Airways | 18 Mar 2026 | Doha DOH |
| A7-ACW | A332 | Qatar Airways | 18 Mar 2026 | Doha DOH |
| A7-ACX | A332 | Qatar Airways | 18 Mar 2026 | Doha DOH |
| A7-AEP | A333 | Qatar Airways | 18 Mar 2026 | Doha DOH |
| A7-AEN | A333 | Qatar Airways | 19 Mar 2026 | Cairo CAI |
| PR-AIN | A332 | Azul | 20 Mar 2026 | Campinas VCP |
| A7-APC | A388 | Qatar Airways | 20 Mar 2026 | London LHR |
| A7-ALG | A359 | Qatar Airways | 20 Mar 2026 | Nairobi NBO |
| A7-BHX | B789 | Qatar Airways | 20 Mar 2026 | Johannesburg JNB |
| A7-ALT | A359 | Qatar Airways | 20 Mar 2026 | Durban DUR |
| A7-ALL | A359 | Qatar Airways | 20 Mar 2026 | Cape Town CPT |
| A7-AHJ | A320 | Qatar Airways | 21 Mar 2026 | Larnaca LCA |
| A7-ANT | A35K | Qatar Airways | 21 Mar 2026 | Houston IAH |
| A7-ANG | A35K | Qatar Airways | 21 Mar 2026 | Miami MIA |
| A7-ANS | A35K | Qatar Airways | 21 Mar 2026 | São Paulo GRU |
| A7-BCV | B788 | Qatar Airways | 21 Mar 2026 | Lagos LOS |
| A7-AEF | A333 | Qatar Airways | 22 Mar 2026 | Doha DOH |
| A7-AEE | A333 | Qatar Airways | 22 Mar 2026 | Doha DOH |
| A7-AED | A333 | Qatar Airways | 22 Mar 2026 | Doha DOH |
| A7-AEJ | A333 | Qatar Airways | 22 Mar 2026 | Doha DOH |
| A7-ANC | A35K | Qatar Airways | 22 Mar 2026 | Los Angeles LAX |
| A7-AER | A333 | Qatar Airways | 24 Mar 2026 | Warsaw WAW |
| F-GZNO | B77W | Air France | 25 Mar 2026 | Paris CDG |
| A7-AEQ | A333 | Qatar Airways | 26 Mar 2026 | Doha DOH |




















2 Responses
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.
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