CHICAGO, December 25, 2025 – Hundreds of travelers found their Christmas plans grounded after widespread disruptions at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, with one airline facing particular scrutiny. Around 350 passengers intending to fly on Qatar Airways flight 726 to Doha, Qatar, were left stranded as the airline canceled the flight not once, but twice.
Holiday Travel Chaos Leaves Passengers Stranded at O’Hare
A series of cancellations left families facing unexpected expenses and shattered holiday hopes.
- Qatar Airways flight 726 from Chicago to Doha was canceled on Christmas Eve and again on Christmas Day.
- Approximately 350 passengers were affected, incurring significant financial losses.
- Passengers reported difficulties obtaining accommodations and clear communication from the airline.
- Travel insurance and documentation of cancellations are recommended to mitigate losses.
The initial flight, scheduled to depart at 6:50 p.m. on December 24, was first canceled due to reported technical difficulties. Passengers were initially told to expect updates, but by 1 a.m., the flight was officially canceled. The airline then instructed passengers to return to the airport at 3 p.m. on Christmas Day, only to cancel that flight as well at 11 p.m.
“We already lost two days yesterday, and today we were under a lot of pressure and lost a lot of money because we had to take a taxi to go home and come back,” said Tania Salam, who was traveling with her husband and two children. Salam estimated her family lost around $15,000 when factoring in tickets, accommodations, and other expenses.
For some, the financial cost paled in comparison to the lost time with loved ones. “Money is just the beginning. The time that was lost, that wasn’t used to make this trip, you can’t put a price on that,” Muhammad Ashkar lamented. “I’m very disappointed.”
While Qatar Airways provided accommodations for some passengers, others were left to fend for themselves. One traveler noted she was denied a hotel room simply because she resided in Illinois.
“I think I lost $2,000 to $3,000, in addition to the time I was going to spend with my family, that’s what bothers me the most,” said a traveler named Laura.
According to flight-tracking website Flightaware.com, flight 726 finally departed O’Hare at 7:12 p.m. on December 25.
Requests for comment sent to Qatar Airways regarding the disruptions received a response acknowledging receipt of the inquiry, but no further information was provided as of late Friday.
