Middle East Airspace Diversions/Cancellations

[LionKing]

Why the China fixation?

. höpö-höpö

Going through mainland China avoids most of the troubled airspace, and you can avoid the fuss of clearing immigration and re check going through the US.
Plus you get better food and even free hotel stay!
Of course going thru Canada would be another great option apart from potential snowstorm.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Going through mainland China avoids most of the troubled airspace, and you can avoid the fuss of clearing immigration and re check going through the US.
Plus you get better food and even free hotel stay!
Of course going thru Canada would be another great option apart from potential snowstorm.

I think the better food (and drink) is debatable! The much shorter fright times are appealing, and probably less risk… but there’s the ethical issue of airspace and sanctions.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yesterday's SQ23 (JFK-SIN) operated via Europe and north of Iran

I hope all passengers are redirected onto China Eastern and China Southern if they are going to Europe.

Why only MU or CZ?

There are other options such as:
SQ
CX
AY
JL which incidentally flies eastward via the North Pole.
NH

 

[lazblue]

Going through mainland China avoids most of the troubled airspace, and you can avoid the fuss of clearing immigration and re check going through the US.
Plus you get better food and even free hotel stay!
Of course going thru Canada would be another great option apart from potential snowstorm.

Or Japan is another option to Europe if people want to avoid both airspace around ME conflict and sanctioned Russian airspace as JL and NH fly over the North Pole.

 

[PineappleSkip]

More Iranian targeting of Gulf airports, with BAH reportedly hit this time

Bahrain’s interior ministry says aiport damaged by drone​

The ministry has said the country’s international airport was targeted with a drone, “resulting in material damage without loss of life”.

It said authorities were securing the area.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

I understand Oman hasn't had to close airspace as they were playing "mediator."

How does Jordan manage it? I appreciate that missiles zooming back and forth between Iran and Israel would presumably be higher than commercial air traffic departing/arriving Amman, but seems risky, unless I'm missing something obvious or am overly risk averse.

 

[stm1sydney]

fright times

I see what you did there.

 

[elanshin]

Or the Middle East in general.
I would encourage people to change at Africa for Middle East, and change at Mainland China for Europe.

Some people have issues over flying Russian airspace.

Also something to consider if you are holding a western passport. If a plane needs to land for emergency reasons overflying Russia you might get very stuck there. Plenty of people want to avoid that risk too.

 

[AuSammy]

Not flying to EU before the end of the year, but if I were, my preference would be via TYO or HKG over the North Pole. Avoid ME Russia China and USA. At worst a diversion might put me in Alaska, but remote chance.

 

[Seat0B]

I’m not sure that Seat Son and DIL will now be able to get to South Africa for their wedding. Their flights out of DXB are on 12 March. The wedding isn’t until 28 March so maybe they can reschedule. But right now it’s very unclear.

As for us, I expect we will still have to go to Africa anyway as we don’t have any legitimate insurance way to pull the plug. Even looked into - the wedding was cancelled. But the reason for cancellation is uninsurable- war and airspace closure.

I am feeling quite stressed - there is the immediate personal risks of being in Dubai. Plus their home is actually in Abu Dhabi. And then, the wedding. There is a lot at stake for our family.

And yes I am grateful they are not in Iran. Or Israel. Or Gaza. Or Ukraine.

 

[Pushka]

I’m not sure that Seat Son and DIL will now be able to get to South Africa for their wedding. Their flights out of DXB are on 12 March. The wedding isn’t until 28 March so maybe they can reschedule. But right now it’s very unclear.

As for us, I expect we will still have to go to Africa anyway as we don’t have any legitimate insurance way to pull the plug. Even looked into - the wedding was cancelled. But the reason for cancellation is uninsurable- war and airspace closure.

I am feeling quite stressed - there is the immediate personal risks of being in Dubai. Plus their home is actually in Abu Dhabi. And then, the wedding. There is a lot at stake for our family.

And yes I am grateful they are not in Iran. Or Israel. Or Gaza. Or Ukraine.

No you have every right to be as upset as you want/need to be.

I haven't seen our son for 2 years now (FaceTime does not count) and I think he's a bit homesick with the British winter as well. We have a couple of months to wait before we fly out to see him but through Turkey. Just last night before this happened I was talking about sorting out this DSC Qantas thing and getting credits so for 2027 we will fly through Dubai and experience the F lounge again. Of course the latter is completely first world issues but seeing our son again isn't!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Some people have issues over flying Russian airspace.

Also something to consider if you are holding a western passport. If a plane needs to land for emergency reasons overflying Russia you might get very stuck there. Plenty of people want to avoid that risk too.

Exactly the same could be said if you had a diversion over the US!!!

You’d get Homeland securitied and could be detained and deported, just for a social media post.

 

[kevviek]

Or Japan is another option to Europe if people want to avoid both airspace around ME conflict and sanctioned Russian airspace as JL and NH fly over the North Pole.

JL flights are super exxy.

 

[Aeryn]

Exactly the same could be said if you had a diversion over the US!!!

You’d get Homeland securitied and could be detained and deported, just for a social media post.

Highly unlikely.

If you just need a refuel you wouldnt have to leave the plane, I've been on a flight from YVR to SYD that was diverted to HNL to refuel due too strong headwinds - no passengers were allowed off the plane, we didnt have to clear US immigration. We were on the gound in the middle of the night, skelton airport crew simply added fuel, emptied the toilet waste and loaded on extra water/softdrinks.

Procedures for emergency entry are also different, they can issue emergency visa waivers/visas. Why worry about being deported? You were on your way to somewhere else so if you have to be put on alternate flight out asap is that not a good thing?

1000s of Aussies fly to and via the USA every week without issue. Only risk would be if you had an outstanding warrant for arrest in the USA.

 

[exLXCXFF]

 

[LondonAussie]

I’m not sure if the Australian government has anything similar yet, but British nationals are being asked to register their presence in the following countries for consular assistance.

Bahrain: Tell the UK government you're in Bahrain – Register your presence abroad

Israel: Tell the UK government you're in Israel – Register your presence abroad

Palestine: Tell the UK government you're in Palestine – Register your presence abroad

Qatar: Tell the UK government you're in Qatar – Register your presence abroad

UAE: Tell the UK government you're in United Arab Emirates – Register your presence abroad

 

[AuSammy]

View attachment 499263

None of those are going via the ME

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Highly unlikely.

If you just need a refuel you wouldnt have to leave the plane, I've been on a flight from YVR to SYD that was diverted to HNL to refuel due too strong headwinds - no passengers were allowed off the plane, we didnt have to clear US immigration. We were on the gound in the middle of the night, skelton airport crew simply added fuel, emptied the toilet waste and loaded on extra water/softdrinks.

Procedures for emergency entry are also different, they can issue emergency visa waivers/visas. Why worry about being deported? You were on your way to somewhere else so if you have to be put on alternate flight out asap is that not a good thing?

1000s of Aussies fly to and via the USA every week without issue. Only risk would be if you had an outstanding warrant for arrest in the USA.

A diversion over Russia is also highly unlikely, and exactly the same thing if it is to get more fuel.. you wouldn’t be allowed off the plane.

1000s of Aussies travel to the US each week, and some of them are getting refused entry.

When you get refused entry/deported you get sent back to the point of origin… not forwarded on to your final destination.

 

[jase05]

View attachment 499263

All of those are cargo flights going direct

 

[prozac]

I’m not sure that Seat Son and DIL will now be able to get to South Africa for their wedding. Their flights out of DXB are on 12 March. The wedding isn’t until 28 March so maybe they can reschedule. But right now it’s very unclear.

As for us, I expect we will still have to go to Africa anyway as we don’t have any legitimate insurance way to pull the plug. Even looked into - the wedding was cancelled. But the reason for cancellation is uninsurable- war and airspace closure.

I am feeling quite stressed - there is the immediate personal risks of being in Dubai. Plus their home is actually in Abu Dhabi. And then, the wedding. There is a lot at stake for our family.

And yes I am grateful they are not in Iran. Or Israel. Or Gaza. Or Ukraine.

My personal guess is this will not be a protracted engagement. A week, 10 days tops before Iran can no longer fire missiles, drones or anything else. If I was to put money on it I'd say less than 7 days and Iran will be Persia once again. There are likely to be mopping up operations on the ground for some time but this will not affect air travel. I was there early 1979 during the civil war. It will be nice to see democracy return.