The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) and aviation safety expert Professor Ron Bartsch have moved to correct media reports that wrongly claimed Australians had been advised to cancel travel to Europe for the next six months.
Publications including the Daily Mail and Yahoo reported earlier today that Bartsch had warned travellers against flying to Europe amid disruption caused by Middle East airspace restrictions. One travel professional described the headline to Travel Weekly as a “bullet” to the Australian travel industry.
However, both ATIA and Bartsch say the reports misrepresented his comments, which related specifically to the operational impacts of airspace closures on airline routing and fuel costs.
Bartsch said his remarks were about the complexity airlines face navigating restricted Middle East airspace and the likelihood that those operational challenges could persist for several months.
“My comments this morning were about the operational complexities created by Middle East airspace restrictions – the impact on flight corridors, hub disruptions and fuel costs which will continue to be felt for the next six months,” Bartsch said.
“I did not advise Australians to cancel their travel plans to Europe. Aviation is an adaptive industry. Airlines are rerouting, alternatives exist and travellers should be making decisions based on accurate information, not headlines that misrepresent what was said.”
ATIA also moved to reassure travellers that multiple flight options between Australia and Europe remain available.
The association pointed out that airlines including Etihad and Emirates are operating flights, while Asian carriers such as Singapore Airlines and several Chinese airlines continue to provide alternative routes to Europe. Qantas flights to Europe are also operating and do not travel through the Middle East.
ATIA CEO Dean Long said while travellers may experience some delays and disruption due to changes in flight paths, travel to Europe remains possible.
“There are plenty of safe ways to get to Europe and the aviation sector has and will continue to adapt,” Long said.
“Asia is open and operating. We have flights coming out of the Middle East. There will be some delays and a bit more disruption than what we’re used to but no one in the travel industry is going to put you in a place where it’s unsafe.”
Long also warned travellers not to cancel bookings prematurely.
“If you’re booked to travel shortly via the Middle East, it is critical that you do not panic-cancel but rather wait for your airline to cancel as otherwise you are erasing your rights of a refund or rebook,” he said.
Travellers planning trips later in the year are instead being encouraged to speak with their accredited travel agent or tour operator about alternative routing options if required.
