Middle East Airspace Diversions/Cancellations

[AuSammy]

 

[moa999]

VA1 back to SYD.
FlightAware shows 2am arrival. Presumably a MEL diversion ?

 

[AuSammy]

Some global airlines have suspended flights across parts of the Middle East.
German airline Lufthansa said it has suspended flights to-and-from Dubai across the weekend, as well as the capital cities of Israel, Lebanon and Oman until 7 March.
Wizz Air has similarly suspended flights until 7 March in Israel, Dubai and Abu Dhabi and Amman in Jordan.
Virgin Atlantic said it will temporarily be avoiding Iraqi airspace, and has cancelled a flight on Saturday from London Heathrow to Dubai.
Kuwait's aviation authority said it was halting all flights to Iran until further notice, according to state media.
Some countries in the region - including Iraq and Jordan - have also closed their airspace. The United Arab Emirates said it has "partially and temporarily" closed its airspace as a precaution, state media reported.
Meanwhile, the UK Foreign Office travel guidance for Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Oman, is now advising travellers to "remain vigilant, follow local authority advice and take shelter if advised".

 

[Scr77]

Flightradar24 is down or struggling to keep up.

Edit: seems to be back.

Tonight’s Etihad Melbourne to Abu Dhabi is still on route and currently mid WA.

 

[Seat0B]

Seat Son is in Dubai for the weekend with DIL’s family and reports:
UAE airspace is closed
Missiles have passed overhead in Dubai and many/most have been shot down.
The populace has been told to shelter in place.

 

[RooFlyer]

Why would Iran be looking to exacerbate the situation with neighbours not yet involved.

US Bases. And in the case of Saudi Arabia, and others, the schism between Sunni Muslims in Saudi etc and Shi'a in Iran creates little love.

 

[Scr77]

Tonight’s Etihad Melbourne to Abu Dhabi is still on route and currently mid WA.

Now returning to Melbourne.

 

[Aeryn]

Given the uncertainties around the ME and many people being reluctant to travel via the US. Pondering should QF be looking at 5th freedom flights AU-YVR-EU/UK or AU-JNB-EU/UK

If this last more than a few days it would be smart to run QF LHR/CDG via the USA (assuming there are slots available at LAX/SFO/DFW).

Sure a small number of people wont want to travel via the US and request a refund BUT most I imagine would prefer to avoid flying anywhere near Russia or the ME right now.

 

[Drakecula]

I wonder whether we'll be able to fly next weekend. We're on Qatar to London via Doha.

 

[LionKing]

All Qatar Airways flights QR840X is now returning to Australia.
QR909/28 Feb just declared it will not operate.
EY455/28 Feb will not operate.
EK413/417 appearing as Gate Closed.
Interested to know if QF9 need to make a stop for refuel.

 

[moa999]

VA1 after a slight turn towards BME, did a 180 and is now heading for PER.

 

[jeza]

All Qatar Airways flights QR840X is now returning to Australia.
QR909/28 Feb just declared it will not operate.
EY455/28 Feb will not operate.
EK413/417 appearing as Gate Closed.
Interested to know if QF9 need to make a stop for refuel.

QFA9 departed at 1923, interesting...

 

[justinbrett]

QFA9 departed at 1923, interesting...

They’ll just take the northern route over Afghanistan and the Caspian Sea. They flew that route last night.

 

[LionKing]

They’ll just take the northern route over Afghanistan and the Caspian Sea. They flew that route last night.

That'd take 17 hours according to FR24, such a long flight.

 

[Brissy1]

VA1 after a slight turn towards BME, did a 180 and is now heading for PER.

Now going to MEL. I suppose then just a short flight to get the pax back to SYD tomorrow morning as no hope of getting to the ME for quite a while.
Adding, Thought they might have got a curfew exemption though.

 

[LionKing]

Now going to MEL. I suppose then just a short flight to get the pax back to SYD tomorrow morning as no hope of getting to the ME for quite a while.

Perhaps they can be rebooked on other airlines to their destination?
If they are going to Europe, they can go via China instead?

 

[Drakecula]

Perhaps they can be rebooked on other airlines to their destination?

I'm hoping that will be the case for us (if it impacts us).