Greek performers Ioulia Karapataki, Konstantina Touni, and Christina Salti were delayed in Australia after flight cancellations caused by escalating conflict in the Middle East disrupted international travel.
The US and Israeli attacks on Iran, along with subsequent regional developments, affected air routes across the region and stranded thousands of passengers worldwide.
The singers had travelled to Australia to perform at the Antipodes Festival in Melbourne and the Greek Festival of Sydney in Darling Harbour, but their return journeys were complicated by multiple disruptions.
Some members of the travelling delegation were also denied US visas due to previous travel to Cuba, forcing the group to seek alternative routes via Canada.
Karapataki has now begun her journey home to Greece after securing a revised travel itinerary.
Meanwhile, Touni and members of her team are expected to depart on Saturday, if schedules remain unchanged.
Christina Salti remains in Sydney after her flight to Doha and connecting service to Athens were cancelled following Qatar’s temporary closure of its airspace.
In a statement to The Greek Herald, Jorge Menidis, head of the Antipodes Festival, noted the financial and logistical challenges caused by the sudden disruptions, highlighting how international conflicts can have ripple effects on travel and cultural events abroad.
