Middle East Airspace Diversions/Cancellations

[lovestotravel]

So....

G'day from Dubai! Here with my wife and 13 month old. Landed here Friday morning and meant to fly to Maldives on Monday.

Saw the war started Saturday morning and was keeping an eye on it on X but wasn't concerned because we are in the UAE not Qatar or Israel. Mid morning we were at the beach and there was a huge thunder clap above us which turned out to be the first drone intercepted directly above our heads. Strikes were escalating during the day and then really kicked off at sunset. We were at the Ritz-Carlton in JBR and were getting intercepts directly above our resort more and more often. Came to a head around 7pm after sunset when there were multiple drone intercepts above the alfresco restaurant at the resort where we were eating and a firey ballistic missile falling into the ocean just off the coast. Everyone was rushed inside and then shortly after the restaurant was closed. This was the same time the Fairmont got hit. For next 2 days we were basically confined to our rooms. We got phone alerts and were smashed all that night, a fair bit the next day and sunset again on Sunday night. Managed to gain some courage and take the baby out on Monday morning to some play equipment in the resort grounds as he was getting stir crazy and needed to get out. Unfortunately for the first time in around 15 hours we had 3 intercepts directly over our heads at fairly low level, had to grab the baby and run for cover.

I've got photos and videos of drones being intercepted, missiles falling from the sky, F16's flying at low altitude with full air to air payloads. The intercepts are so close you can feel the percussion in your chest and taste/smell the remnants. It was insane, we've moved hotels and now there is a lot less strikes. We're all a bit shook up, any bassy noise is getting us jumpy and the bub is clearly concerned. Haven't really slept since Saturday night so if this post makes no sense, don't blame me.

Flights have been delayed and delayed and now we are just trying to get back to Perth, were booked on EK420 on the 7th but that has been cancelled. Still getting over 100 drones a day being intercepted so I can't see it getting back into swing of things for a while. We are registered on DFAT crisis but I don't think they know what to do with this many people.

Oh, and on the UAE is paying for hotels, that's incorrect reporting, Abu Dhabi is footing the bill, in Dubai people are just on fixed rates, so at the moment we are coping the hotel costs and as others have mentioned no insurance because of war. We are ok but others are clearly running into financial difficulties.

Fingers crossed we can get home sometime soon, getting out of UAE airspace is going to be the biggest sigh of relief

Thanks for posting! Glad you're all OK

Stay safe and get home soon

 

[jase05]

Media reporting that only around 209 pax on the EK flight to SYD
Also reported that there is a scheduled flight from AUHto Australia this afternoon

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I am just suck in the UK, Y flights I have been quoted up to 26k. I am now doing the family hop around the UK staying with family for a day or two and then moving on. Hopefully I will get back to AU next week.

That’s crazy pricing

UA(.com) is selling Y one way from the UK to Sydney for AUD2500 one way per pax for departures 2 days away, and AUD1650 for departures 7 or more days away.

Who’s asking for 26k?

 

[lazblue]

Looking like all 3x EK flights from SYD to DXB are operating today - EK415 took off at 6:17am this morning…

 

[LionKing]

EK414 and EK406 are operating into Australia today.
EK414 is currently boarding.

 

[dajop]

That’s crazy pricing

UA(.com) is selling Y one way from the UK to Sydney for AUD2500 one way per pax for departures 2 days away, and AUD1650 for departures 7 or more days away.

Who’s asking for 26k?

Also it could be a matter of finding a good point to exit Europe from. - for example Thai are selling seats from Stockholm to Sydney from Tuesday onwards for about $1200 AUD. .

 

[ftm]

Just received an SMS from Qantas about my flight next week saying they are monitoring the situation and flights up to 15 March have flexibility.

It's on their website too "If you wish to change your booking or no longer wish to travel, you can access a fee-free refund, fee-free Flight Credit (fare difference may apply) or fee-free date change for flights booked on or before 1 March 2026 for travel between 28 February and 15 March 2026 (when rebooking to travel on or before 20 March 2026, subject to availability).  "

Does anyone know what reaccommodation options QF are making available for QF Codeshare pax on EK operated flights? Seems like they are only allowing fee free changes to other EK operated services and other routings are change fee waived, but fare difference applies?

EK’s policy if on EK ticket has far more options to reaccommodate without charge onto QF, CX, JL and a variety of other carriers.

 

[AuSammy]

 

[AuSammy]

ABC is reporting a bsckchannel communication between UAE and Iran governments (contra deal - no retaliatory attacks from UAE Territory) is guaranteeing no Iran attacks.on a limited number of commercial flights as long as they follow a specific route.

 

[offshore171]

So a bunch more info has emerged about that US F15 that was shot down by friendly fire near Kuwait.

It was actually 3 F15's that were downed.

All 3 were shot down by a Kuwaiti F18, who likely mistook them for Iranian Mig29's, which have a similar outline.

https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/kuwaiti-jet-fighter-mistakenly-downed-u-s-f-15s-initial-reports-say-4ab64e56

I can only imagine the discussion with his superiors when he got back to base. Old mate just destroyed $200M worth of allied aircraft.


In terms of risk to civilian air traffic this is probably "good" news. It would have been worse if it was a case of a long range SAMs hitting things in the air, far beyond visual range. (eg: USS Vincennes type incident)

It's also at the opposite end of the gulf, about 800km away from the UAE airports.

Obviously not good, but not as bad a scenario as it could have been

 

[lovestotravel]

Does anyone know what reaccommodation options QF are making available for QF Codeshare pax on EK operated flights? Seems like they are only allowing fee free changes to other EK operated services and other routings are change fee waived, but fare difference applies?

EK’s policy if on EK ticket has far more options to reaccommodate without charge onto QF, CX, JL and a variety of other carriers.

Not sure, I'm on a classic rewards booking

 

[AuSammy]

 

[AIRwin]

Does anyone know what reaccommodation options QF are making available for QF Codeshare pax on EK operated flights? Seems like they are only allowing fee free changes to other EK operated services and other routings are change fee waived, but fare difference applies?

Post in thread 'Middle East Airspace Diversions/Cancellations'

Sunday at 1:15 PM

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

• MELso

•