RIYADH: Multiple flights to the Middle East have been canceled after US and Israeli strikes on Iran prompted widespread airspace closures, disrupting global travel routes.
Air France-KLM has canceled its flights to and from the region, the Franco-Dutch group said in statements overnight, citing security risks from the ongoing conflict.
It stated that the safety of its customers and crew was a top priority and that it would assess the situation before resuming operations.
Air France canceled services to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Dubai, as well as Riyadh, up to and including March 5.
KLM, the Dutch arm of the group, has canceled flights to and from Dammam, Dubai, and Riyadh until March 9, it said in a separate statement.
The German Aviation Association also announced that Germany’s eight largest airports have canceled more than 450 flights up to March 5.
It stated that the first aim is to rebook passengers as quickly as possible, with the safety of passengers and crew members the top priority, Reuters reported.
Leading German tour operator and travel agency chain Dertour announced the cancellation of all trips to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain, as well as Oman, Jordan, Israel, and Kuwait through March 5, citing urgent travel warnings issued by Germany's Foreign Office.
The number of Dertour customers stranded in the region because of closed airspace is a low four-digit figure, it said.
Crisis response teams are arranging extended stays and alternative accommodation, the tour operator added.
A spokesperson for Swiss-based MSC Cruises said its cruise ship MSC Euribia remained in Dubai port in accordance with guidance from regional US military authorities.
The company was in contact with embassies and foreign offices about any repatriation plans being developed.
Airline ticket prices soar on Asia-Europe routes
The price of flights between Asia and Europe has surged after the closure of key Middle Eastern hubs due to the US-Israel war against Iran, with airline websites showing tickets on many popular routes booked out for days, Reuters reported.
Major Gulf hubs, including Dubai, remained closed for a fourth day on March 3, sharply reducing capacity on key routes such as Australia–Europe, where Emirates and Qatar Airways hold significant market share.
Australia’s Flight Centre Travel Group FLT.AX has experienced a 75 percent increase in calls to its stores and emergency assistance lines since the crisis began, and has teams working around the clock to help disrupted customers, its Global Managing Director Andrew Stark said.
“Australians are very resilient and are already rebooking flights to the UK/Europe via alternative routes via China, Singapore, and other Asian hubs, as well as North America via hubs such as Houston,” he said.
Carriers operating non-stop Asia–Europe flights can avoid the closed Middle Eastern airspace by rerouting north via the Caucasus and Afghanistan, or south via Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
This may add to flight times and fuel usage, driving up costs at a time when oil prices have spiked, in a move that could lead to higher fares over the longer term.
“Right now, the whole of the Middle East is out of bounds, which is a high price for some airlines,” said Subhas Menon, head of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines.
“If then Europe can only be served at a high cost, airline profitability will be undermined. At the end of the day, the price to pay is connectivity,” Menon added.
UAE begins limited flights to extract citizens
Emirates, Etihad Airways and flydubai said they would resume limited operations from March 2, prioritising passengers whose flights were rescheduled following the suspension.
This comes as tens of thousands of people are stranded in the UAE, a major global connectivity hub.
The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority said airlines would announce the special flights and urged passengers not to go to airports until contacted with updated schedules, to avoid overcrowding and ensure smooth operations.
Dubai Airports said flights would partially resume at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport from the evening of March 2.
Flydubai also began operating a limited number of flights starting March 2.
Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, said all scheduled flights to and from Dubai remain suspended until 11:59 p.m. UAE time on March 4 due to airspace closures across the region.
However, Emirates is operating a limited number of passenger repatriation and cargo flights on March 3 and 4.
“We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority on these limited flights,” it said, adding that it continues to monitor the situation and will adjust its operational schedule accordingly.
The airline advised passengers not to go to the airport unless they have been notified directly by Emirates or hold a confirmed booking for these flights.
In Abu Dhabi, several Etihad Airways flights departed from its international airport on March 2, bound for destinations including London, Paris, Moscow, and Mumbai.
Later, Etihad Airways said all scheduled flights to and from Abu Dhabi would remain suspended until 2 p.m. UAE time on March 4.
“Passengers should not travel to the airport unless they have been contacted directly by Etihad Airways and advised to do so,” the airline said in a statement.
Meanwhile, 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 on March 4 by 9 a.m. Doha time,” the airline said in a statement.
Similarly, Saudia Airlines has extended the suspension of its flights to Amman, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi, as well as Dubai, Doha, and Bahrain until March 4.
The Kingdom and Oman have become destinations for stranded travellers willing to pay for evacuation, as overland routes emerge as an alternative to suspended flights, Bloomberg reported, adding that transport costs have doubled.
