Widespread airspace shutdowns across the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran – and Tehran’s retaliation – have left more than 100,000 Australians stranded in the region.
Airports in Dubai and Kuwait were hit during Iran’s response, along with a British military air base in Cyprus. Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have all announced partial or full airspace closures.
Limited flights resume
Some airlines cautiously resumed select services from the UAE on Monday. Etihad Airways, Emirates and Flydubai operated a small number of flights after suspending services over the weekend.
At least 1,560 inbound flights to the Middle East were cancelled on Monday, following around 2,000 cancellations on Sunday – affecting roughly 900,000 seats.
In Cyprus, authorities evacuated areas around the Akrotiri base and Paphos airport after a drone strike. Greece has deployed military assets to assist.
Australia’s Smartraveller website has advised travellers to “Exercise a high degree of caution in Cyprus due to the active UN peacekeeping operation in the country.”
Advice for travellers
Smartraveller has urged Australians not to cancel flights without professional advice: “Do not cancel your flights or travel plans until you get advice from your travel agent, airline or other professional.”
“Cancelling can impact your right to a refund or rebooking. Your travel insurance may not cover voluntary cancellations,” they said.
Travellers due to depart within 48 hours are advised to contact airlines directly if they have not been notified of changes.
Government assistance
Australians in the region are being encouraged to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), which has activated its 24/7 Crisis Centre and opened a dedicated portal for those in Israel, Iran, Qatar and the UAE.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: “Our first priority is to do everything we can to keep Australians safe.”
She acknowledged the difficulty of organising assistance while airspace remains closed: “At the moment the issue is not who is flying, it’s that people are not flying.”
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said emergency repatriation flights were being considered but commercial airlines were likely to resume first once airspace reopens.
“The fundamental issue right now is that the airspace is closed, so there are no flights at all,” he said.
Ongoing disruption
Flight Centre chief executive Graham Turner said the duration of disruption remains uncertain but alternative routes via Asia, the United States and China remain available.
He reassured travellers that airlines would not operate unless it was safe to do so: “The carriers are safety obsessed and they certainly won’t fly in a war zone.”
Travel insurance warning
War and armed conflict are generally classified as “force majeure”, meaning many travel insurance policies may not cover cancellations or disruption. Claims are also typically excluded for destinations on Smartraveller’s “Do not travel” list, which currently includes several Middle Eastern nations.
Source: The Advertiser
