Middle East Airspace Diversions/Cancellations

[Captain Halliday]

Parking at a premium at SYD today.

All up I counted

3x EK A380
1x QR A380
1x QR B777
2x EY A35K

May have been more I didn’t see.

 

[am0985]

The Iranians have bombed DXB again.

I flew Emirates F to UK just over 2 weeks ago and QR J back 5 days ago. Was pretty nervous about escalation but my priors were that we'd have airspace closures for a few hours at a time which would create enough chaos as it was.

This is utterly unprecented though. Surely we don't have a precedent for any major international airport getting bombed, let alone the biggest hub airport on the planet? How long will it be out of action for and what will this do to air travel globally? QF routes for the next few days are sold out already.

(Personally if I was in transit I would've demanded to stay in the FCL and be served Chateau Haut Brion and foie gras...nothing wrong with a bit of dust on the food)

 

[Aeryn]

The point was being argued that having a western passport and landing in Russia could be problematic. I don’t necessarily see it that way, any more so than the same argument being made for landing in the US and getting deported over a social media post.

No that wasnt the point at all. The point was safety, flying over or being diverted to a country at war and on the do not travel list is riskier than flying over an ally with no insurance issues.

 

[Quickstatus]

May have been more I didn’t see.

Link in post #455

 

[Captain Halliday]

Link in post #455

View attachment 499305

They must have hidden the fourth EK A380 from me.

 

[Quickstatus]

They must have hidden the fourth EK A380 from me

See the line in the red colour - your 4th A380 is that one. Hidden in the clouds so to speak.

Can these aircraft be used for any flights while stranded here.

.....

I reckon the Georgia ATC must be very busy

 

[Captain Halliday]

See the line in the red colour - your 4th A380 is that one. Hidden in the clouds so to speak.

Can these aircraft be used on any regional international routes?

Well that was cheaper and easier than an eye test. Thanks @Quickstatus

 

[Scarlett]

Thanks everyone for the kind support re Seat Son and DIL. All I can do is wait as patiently as I can until things are clearer. As you suggested @prozac, we have our fingers and toes crossed that this will be over very quickly and they will be able to get to their wedding.

And thanks @Pushka - I know you know first hand some of the challenges of adult kids living away so thanks for the support.

There is what I imagine is a relatively easy back up, due to the small size of the UAE: they could hire a car and driver (one way transfer) to Oman and fly out of there.

Worst case, could even get a transfer to KSA and fly out of there (say out of DMM).

Best of luck for the current situation and travel plans over the next few weeks.

 

[mel-world]

Apparently 29 ME aircraft are stuck in AU at the moment?

I hope all the crew are enjoying a 'holiday' in AUS. Not a bad time of the year to be stuck here. Probably better than being stranded in the northern hemisphere winter.

(I do realise that they would all be nervous and anxious about friends and relatives back home.)

 

[TheRealTMA]

Middle East situation.

Terrible news in the CM, an ex MAFS contestant influencer is stuck in Dubai! (Where he now lives.)

 

[Pushka]

Middle East situation.

Terrible news in the CM, an ex MAFS contestant influencer is stuck in Dubai! (Where he now lives.)

I'd laugh if the general situation (but not his) wasn't so grim.

 

[stu961]

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.

sssshhhh.... there goes the empty seat next to me.... Syd- Vancouver via Tokyo on Tuesday

 

[AuSammy]

an ex MAFS contestant influencer is stuck in Dubai!

Oh no! an influencer in a dilemma. Will go viral in an instant

 

[justinbrett]

You’d have to wonder if this goes on for the best part of a week or more, whether EK & QR would be able to set up a couple of trunk routes avoiding their hubs - ie LHR-SIN, FCO-PER etc - to at least get some pax and aircraft moving. It would be a logistical nightmare to be fair.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Oh no! an influencer in a dilemma. Will go viral in an instant

There are quite a few of them posting horror stories about all the extra noise…

 

[AuSammy]

There are quite a few of them posting horror stories about all the extra noise…

Thoughts and prayers

 

[VPS]

Qantas waiver now in place: https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/au/en/agency-news/march-2026/airspace-closure.html

So the way I read that if you have a classic rewards, they have no obligation to find you another seat. It would be pretty sad if you’ve booked that a year ago and now your whole trip is in jeopardy

 

[Princess Fiona]

So the way I read that if you have a classic rewards, they have no obligation to find you another seat. It would be pretty sad if you’ve booked that a year ago and now your whole trip is in jeopardy

That’s not how I read that.
It says they cannot be held in Credit, rebooking or refund are the options available.

 

[VPS]

That’s not how I read that.
It says they cannot be held in Credit, rebooking or refund are the options available.

My bad. I misread it

 

[JanP]

My flights with Virgin/QR are on 15 March:
PER–DOH–VIE.
Half paid with Velocity points and half with cash. Also SYD–PER with Jetstar, paid in cash.
I'm not sure what to do.
Would Virgin refund all my points and taxes if I cancel? And what about Jetstar, even though that flight is not affected?
Yes, I know the best option is to ask Virgin directly — I'm just asking more experienced travellers what the usual practice is.