Middle East Airspace Diversions/Cancellations

[prozac]

Yet the Qatari’s we know and have befriended despise Iran and want to see the regime destroyed.

Generally when we say, Qatar, China, Russia for instance, most are referring to the governments and not the population. Qatar as you know is a supporter of Iran backed terror groups. It houses the largest US military base in the ME, hence would likely be a prime target if Iran went down this route.

 

[LondonAussie]

2 BA flights from London to Dubai were diverted due to the events in the region.

BA105 returned to LHR.
BA109 went to ZRH, assuming didn’t have enough fuel to get back to LHR.

 

[dajop]

SQ cancelled today’s flight to DXB as well.

 

[HSB44]

Anyone know why they are cancelling UAE flights specifically? Is it the threat of crossfire from Iran attacking US military targets?

If so, how likely is it that a commercial airline could somehow find itself in the cross-hairs of one of the bases?

I'm most interested in Dubai, as I have upcoming Emirates flights booked
.. On the map the US air base looks moderately close to Dubai, but much more so to Abu Dhabi

Post automatically merged: Today at 12:26 AM

Anyone know why they are cancelling UAE flights specifically? Is it the threat of crossfire from Iran attacking US military targets?

If so, how likely is it that a commercial airline could somehow find itself in the cross-hairs of one of the bases?

I'm most interested in Dubai, as I have upcoming Emirates flights booked
.. On the map the US air base looks moderately close to Dubai, but much more so to Abu Dhabi

Also - what is the alternative?? Are SQ and QF flying over Pakistan / Afghanistan / Caspian Sea then top of Iran?

 

[I love to travel]

I wonder what, if anything, Emirates et al are doing to try and ease tensions. If Emirates were forced to stop flights the global ramifications would be huge given their reach

 

[justinbrett]

Anyone know why they are cancelling UAE flights specifically? Is it the threat of crossfire from Iran attacking US military targets?

If so, how likely is it that a commercial airline could somehow find itself in the cross-hairs of one of the bases?

I'm most interested in Dubai, as I have upcoming Emirates flights booked
.. On the map the US air base looks moderately close to Dubai, but much more so to Abu Dhabi

Post automatically merged: Today at 12:26 AM

Also - what is the alternative?? Are SQ and QF flying over Pakistan / Afghanistan / Caspian Sea then top of Iran?

The US doesn’t have a base in Dubai, the Aussies do (Al Minhad), and sometimes the US has small numbers of people / aircraft there but it’s managed by the Aussies. When I say base, it’s a base within a base, as it is primarily a UAE base.

The US has a base in Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra which is again within a UAE base. It’s massive. I spent 6 months deployed here when I was in the RAAF.

I can’t see Iran targeting these bases. The UAE government is publicly supporting the Iranian regime even though they have traditionally been rivals. A strike would damage Emirati infrastructure and make them join the war against them. Qatar is even more interesting as they are probably Iran’s best ally (remember the blockade?) so I really can’t imagine Iran turning on them.

I think for foreign airlines, the risk is similar to MH17.

I wonder what, if anything, Emirates et al are doing to try and ease tensions. If Emirates were forced to stop flights the global ramifications would be huge given their reach

EK are still flying. They’ve just suspended flights to Iran/Iraq.

 

[60spud]

I hope you're wrong re the MH17 comment as there are a lot of innocent people travelling to Europe on those routes, me and my wife included in 7 weeks.

 

[HSB44]

The US doesn’t have a base in Dubai, the Aussies do (Al Minhad), and sometimes the US has small numbers of people / aircraft there but it’s managed by the Aussies. When I say base, it’s a base within a base, as it is primarily a UAE base.

The US has a base in Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra which is again within a UAE base. It’s massive. I spent 6 months deployed here when I was in the RAAF.

I can’t see Iran targeting these bases. The UAE government is publicly supporting the Iranian regime even though they have traditionally been rivals. A strike would damage Emirati infrastructure and make them join the war against them. Qatar is even more interesting as they are probably Iran’s best ally (remember the blockade?) so I really can’t imagine Iran turning on them.

I think for foreign airlines, the risk is similar to MH17.



EK are still flying. They’ve just suspended flights to Iran/Iraq.

Thanks, that's very informative.

Hopefully the risk of Iran shooting down a civil plane over the straits (either deliberately or inadvertently) are small. (?)

But I guess they still have some air defence weaponry, right? So they might get nervous about US launching more attacks from UAE...

 

[drron]

BA is likely to divert flights to the ME ports as the case of BA 149 in 1990 has hit the headlines again last year. It was destroyed after landing in Kuwait by the Iraq forces who had just invaded Kuwait. Passengers and crew taken hostage.

BA 159: Kuwait flight hostages sue BA and UK government

The claimants believe BA and the UK government knew Iraq had invaded Kuwait before the plane landed.

www.bbc.com

 

[moa999]

I wonder what, if anything, Emirates et al are doing to try and ease tensions. If Emirates were forced to stop flights the global ramifications would be huge given their reach

Not just EK.
All the ME airlines airports are just across the Persian Gulf from Iran.

 

[SYD]

Not just EK.
All the ME airlines airports are just across the Persian Gulf from Iran.

But especially DXB….just over the Strait of Hormuz.

 

[HSB44]

Surely they need all the allies they can get, right? It wouldn't make sense to attack the Emirates if they can avoid it. Surely it would make sense focus on the Iraq and Syria bases

 

[Must...Fly!]

"Allies" is a really loose term.

The UAE government is just looking out for itself. If polled, I think we'd find that in the Middle East no one would come to bat for the theocratic regime, if push came to shove.

Except for the Yemenis. Oh no, a green light to completely decimate the place...the Saudis and Emiratis would be so disappointed by such an occurrence...

 

[KathN]

I’m about to cancel my flights (SIN-LHR) QF1 and QF2 with BA connections - change of date is complex and expensive (cost of new ticket). As it is a DSC booking, any ideas as to how to preserve this?

Global impacts of conflict in the Middle East

The situation in the Middle East is unpredictable. Safety, security and travel may be affected within the region and globally.

www.smartraveller.gov.au

 

[60spud]

When were you travelling and is it due to the current situation.

 

[HSB44]

Are QF and Singapore flying over the top of Afghanistan? Have I read that right from the map?

Not sure if that's safer than the Persian gulf, :-/

 

[Must...Fly!]

Are QF and Singapore flying over the top of Afghanistan? Have I read that right from the map?

Not sure if that's safer than the Persian gulf, :-/

Been doing that for yonks. It's not dangerous.

 

[KathN]

When were you travelling and is it due to the current situation.

1 July and yes.

 

[I love to travel]

1 July and yes.

To be honest unless you are prepared to go via North America, anywhere from Oz to Europe could potentially fly over a shaky area right now. But there is a reason why airlines have not cancelled flights en masse - governments, with their risk assessment knowledge, are not telling them too. You can never be 100% sure about anything, but if this is the sole reason for your change, then via NA it is

 

[KathN]

To be honest unless you are prepared to go via North America, anywhere from Oz to Europe could potentially fly over a shaky area right now. But there is a reason why airlines have not cancelled flights en masse - governments, with their risk assessment knowledge, are not telling them too. You can never be 100% sure about anything, but if this is the sole reason for your change, then via NA it is

Thanks! Family are also concerned about us being in Europe during this time and return leg to Aust. Been lucky to travel most years to Europe, hopefully things will settle down