The travel industry has responded rapidly to the ongoing chaos in the Middle East as thousands of Australian remain stranded after thousands of flights were cancelled after Iran launched retaliatory strikes paralysed one of the world’s busiest aviation corridors.
Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates closed their skies hours after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Saturday after Dubai airport was hit by blasts.
Flight-tracking website FlightAware showed more than 19,900 flights had been delayed globally and more than 2,600 cancelled worldwide as of 3pm AEDT on Sunday.
Thousands of Australians have been left stranded in airports, forced off cruise ships and scrambling to find hotels as a result.
On the ground, Fairmont The Palm at the Palm Jumeirah was one of the lush Dubai tourist hot spots hit and set ablaze by Iranian drones.
No insurance coverage
But Southern Cross Travel Insurance has warned that it is unable to cover any claims, costs or losses or liabilities directly or indirectly arising from, related to or associated with war and violence. That also includes riot or civil commotion; acts of foreseeable violence; acts involving military operations; and/or war, invasion, or civil war – whether it’s declared or not.
“For those currently on their journey, whose travel has been affected by the Middle East airspace closures, please note there is no cover for this event for any travel interruption costs or losses incurred under Section D.3.1 Travel Interruption, as this event is excluded from cover under the policy by virtue of general exclusion E.5 as per policy wording.
“These general exclusions apply to the whole policy,” the SCTI website states. “These exclusions apply throughout your period of insurance — including before your journey, and while you’re on your journey.
“If you are yet to start your travel, please note the war and violence policy exclusion applies.”
More details linked here.
The Australian Travel Industry Association says travellers who panic and cancel flights risk losing their money.
ATIA national response
All directors of the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) have been actively engaged over the weekend, working alongside the executive leadership team to shape and steer a coordinated national response to escalating international aviation disruptions.
ATIA said it’s board and leadership moved decisively to ensure members were supported with structure, clarity and real-time operational guidance. This has included activating and directing the Association’s Incident Response Group to centralise intelligence, align industry messaging and provide consistent national direction.
While members are on the frontline supporting clients, ATIA’s Directors and leadership team continue to actively steer coordination, engage industry partners and reinforce public messaging that recognises the extraordinary effort underway across the sector.
“ATIA’s Incident Response Group is actively coordinating with airlines, agency groups, tour operators and travel insurance providers to cut through fragmented updates and deliver authoritative, practical guidance members can act on immediately,” CEO Dean Long said.
“All ATIA Directors have been actively engaged over the weekend shaping and steering our response so members are supported from every angle.
“Our Incident Response Group is working in real time to give members clear, consistent and actionable information. Across the country, accredited travel professionals are working around the clock for their clients and we are making sure that effort is recognised publicly in every single mainstream media interview that we do.”
Australian aviation response
Australian airports are closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and the impacts on global aviation.
With large areas of airspace across the region currently affected, significant disruptions to international flights are likely in the coming days and the situation may change rapidly.
Australian airports are currently accommodating around 30 aircraft from Middle Eastern carriers that remain on the ground following diversions and flight cancellations due to airspace disruptions in the region, the Australian Airports Association reports.
“Airports and airlines are working together to manage these operational impacts and implement contingency arrangements where required.
“Travellers should check directly with their airline for the latest updates before heading to the airport and follow Australian Government advice, including updates available from the Smartraveller website.”
Australians requiring emergency consular assistance, or help with departure, should contact the Australian Government’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (from within Australia).
The background
As Travel Weekly reported on the weekend, flights throughout the Middle East are in chaos after Iran launched retaliatory strikes which have paralysed one of the world’s busiest aviation corridors.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has upgraded its warnings about travel to Qatar including stop overs in Doha.
“We’ve raised our level of advice for Qatar. We now advise ‘exercise a high degree of caution’ due to ongoing hostilities in the region,” the Smartraveller site stated.
“Conflicts in the Middle East could lead to an increase in tensions elsewhere in the region and may result in airspace closures, flight cancellations and other travel disruptions.
“Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East. Contact your travel agent or airline to confirm your plans,” it advised.
“If you travel to or through the Middle East, you may be unable to leave if conflict escalates. Flights can change or stop at short notice. Roads and borders can close.”
Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, was hit in what it called a “blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles” with four people reportedly injured. All flights at Dubai International and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) have been suspended until further notice.
Qatar Airways flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace. Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace. A further update will be provided by 09:00 Doha time
Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates all shut their skies within hours of the strikes.
A Virgin Australia spokesperson said a number of flights operated by Qatar Airways had been cancelled.
Four Virgin Australia flights operated by Qatar Airways — VA1 (Sydney), VA15 (Brisbane), VA7 (Melbourne) and VA21 (Perth) — were forced to turn around on Saturday as Qatari airspace closed.
“Guests scheduled to travel on Virgin Australia services between Australia and Doha in the coming days are advised to closely monitor their flight information,” they said.
Today (Sunday) flights between Doha and Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane have been cancelled with affected guests contacted directly.
There is currently no impact to Qantas operated flights, including flights between Singapore and London.
“We are closely monitoring the evolving situation and any potential impact to our flights,” the carrier said.
“The safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority, and where necessary we may adjust our flight paths accordingly. If your flight is affected, we will contact you as soon as possible using the phone number and email address provided in your booking.”
Virgin Australia’s newest partner Qatar Airways said the increasing bombings in the region “will require some schedule changes to strengthen the connectivity”.
“We are continuously monitoring and assessing the situation, and reacting in real-time to ensure we operate under the safest conditions possible at all times,” the airline said in a statement.
Singapore Airlines has cancelled two flights between Singapore and Dubai, with the possibility of more cancellations to follow. Qantas flights remain unchanged as it has no stopovers in the Middle East.
SWISS suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv until 7 March. A total of 14 flights in both directions are affected. It also cancelled scheduled flights from Zurich to Dubai.
It is offering either a free rebooking to a later date or a refund of the ticket price.
The retaliatory strikes on Gulf Nations followed a joint US-Israel operation that killed the regime’s Supreme Leader.
