Middle East Airspace Diversions/Cancellations

[SCM]

So what is Qatar doing? I have a flight on the 16th which is just a day after their current advisory, seems doubtful it will be sorted out.

Has anyone ever done an eu261 claim at Qatar? Where do you submit it?

 

[jase05]

So what is Qatar doing? I have a flight on the 16th which is just a day after their current advisory, seems doubtful it will be sorted out.

Has anyone ever done an eu261 claim at Qatar? Where do you submit it?

They might put you one of their flights out of RUH or MCT

 

[IrishPete]

Not sure if I've posted this already, but it may provide some helpful example to others.

We were due to fly Dublin to Canberra on Qatar (economy class) on Saturday 7 March.

I have booked the following in place of that route:

Monday 9 January, Qantas Premium Economy to Singapore about 1000 Euro. It's British Airways from Dublin to London.

Then Singapore to Sydney on Scoot Plus for about Au$650 We have about 7 hours in Singapore, so will be looking for paid lounge access to get a shower, or my brother has suggested the swimming pool. (Not sure if it's in Terminal 1, and we will have our luggage with us until we can check in with Scoot).

This is actually a surprisingly affordable Premium Economy itinerary, and the Qantas care feels too good to be true.

It leaves us stuck in Sydney. At the moment it looks like one way car hire is how we'll get home, but if Virgin release the points used to book one of our Dublin-Qatar seats, I might be able to fly us home (though olreward flights are getting expensive AND disappearing entirely). My car is at Canberra Airport...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not sure if I've posted this already, but it may provide some helpful example to others.

We were due to fly Dublin to Canberra on Qatar (economy class) on Saturday 7 March.

I have booked the following in place of that route:

Monday 9 January, Qantas Premium Economy to Singapore about 1000 Euro. It's British Airways from Dublin to London.

Then Singapore to Sydney on Scoot Plus for about Au$650 We have about 7 hours in Singapore, so will be looking for paid lounge access to get a shower, or my brother has suggested the swimming pool. (Not sure if it's in Terminal 1, and we will have our luggage with us until we can check in with Scoot).

This is actually a surprisingly affordable Premium Economy itinerary, and the Qantas care feels too good to be true.

It leaves us stuck in Sydney. At the moment it looks like one way car hire is how we'll get home, but if Virgin release the points used to book one of our Dublin-Qatar seats, I might be able to fly us home (though olreward flights are getting expensive AND disappearing entirely). My car is at Canberra Airport...

9 January or 9 March? Assuming you mean 9 March.

As mentioned previously, your own rebooking was unnecessary and would have been fully covered under EU261 ex DUB, all the way to Canberra in business class.

As QR has cancelled the flight, that triggers the duty of care (for meals and accommodation if necessary) and for re-rerouting on another carrier to you final destination.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So what is Qatar doing? I have a flight on the 16th which is just a day after their current advisory, seems doubtful it will be sorted out.

Has anyone ever done an eu261 claim at Qatar? Where do you submit it?

For EU261 to trigger you’re going to need a cancellation by QR.

Once the flight is cancelled you are entitled to duty of care (meals and accommodation), plus re-routing.

You’ll likely need to get hold of QR to discuss re-routing, so if you need accommodation ask them at the time. If they don’t help with accommodation, you can book a ‘reasonable’ hotel (mid-range/budget) and submit your invoice for payment.

 

[Saab34]

I wonder when all this war dies down, whether people will still want to transit in middle east in the next 12 months? I flew QR J via DOH in Dec/Jan and had a great experience. However, it seems too much of a risk travelling via ME in the near future.

I wonder how it will impact ME3? I wonder if ME3 will have super sales and discount redemptions to build confidence again?

I think this is just a small blip, for the moment anyway.

I’d say traffic will be impacted over the coming months as those who book 1-3 months out will likely push bookings to other hubs, especially the Asia and Australia to Europe. Pricing will probably drop and going onto peak, margin might take a hit but I don’t think traffic will slide too much as last minute sharp pricing will lure many back during the peak.

The ME3 simply offer such a large chunk of the international traffic it’s hard to see any permanent redistribution of traffic away from them due to these events. It’s hard for many to look past the network and connectivity they provide. The issue will be if we see an event with a commercial aircraft in the near period. Confidence will likely head south. Iran is obviously all over the shop with its attack approach, all it takes is one slip up and we have a commercial airliner down.

 

[Cardinal]

Exactly, ABC had interviews earlier this week with Aussies who were transiting UAE coming home/going to EU when this started with very young children and are now reluctant to leave hotel and head to airport given the volume of missile activity they were seeing and lack of information re how secure flying would be (i.e. no assurances of military escorts etc) and new countries being puled into the conflict everyday.

It's nice having the luxury to think governments/authorities would allow flights to leave if they did not think it safe.

Hard to deny that something random could happen - but it would have to be pretty random.

 

[justinbrett]

I think this is just a small blip, for the moment anyway.

I’d say traffic will be impacted over the coming months as those who book 1-3 months out will likely push bookings to other hubs, especially the Asia and Australia to Europe. Pricing will probably drop and going onto peak, margin might take a hit but I don’t think traffic will slide too much as last minute sharp pricing will lure many back during the peak.

The ME3 simply offer such a large chunk of the international traffic it’s hard to see any permanent redistribution of traffic away from them due to these events. It’s hard for many to look past the network and connectivity they provide. The issue will be if we see an event with a commercial aircraft in the near period. Confidence will likely head south. Iran is obviously all over the shop with its attack approach, all it takes is one slip up and we have a commercial airliner down.

I don’t think it will be a revolutionary change, but a large number of analysts and aviation media sources all seem to agree that confidence in ME3 airlines has taken a hit after this crisis, not anything that could be helped but just reminding people this is an unstable part of the world, even if UAE and Qatr themselves are perfectly safe, some of the neighbours not so much.

I do think people will think twice and may prefer to book with an airline operating via Asia, and as for Qantas, could they have an any more perfect environment than this to launch their sunrise flights?

Emirates operations update:

• The airline anticipates a return to 100% of its network within the coming days, subject to airspace availability and the fulfilment of all operational requirements. Safety, as ever, remains paramount as is our duty of care.
• Yesterday, Emirates carried approximately 30,000 passengers out of Dubai.
• By tomorrow, 7 March, Emirates will have 106 daily return flights operating to 83 destinations, representing almost 60% of our route network.
• In certain high-demand markets, Emirates has significantly scaled up its operations. In the UK alone, the airline will be operating 11 daily flights across five airports by 7 March, reflecting the strength of travel demand between the UAE and UK.
• Additional capacity is being deployed across India, with Emirates scaling up to 22 daily flights, serving all nine of its Indian gateways by tomorrow 7 March.
• In the United States, Emirates currently operates to seven of its American gateways, ensuring continued connectivity between the US and the UAE during this period.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029890266510021107

Clever wording - 100% of network, not 100% of capacity. 106 daily flights is still less than 10%.

 

[jrfsp]

I don’t think it will be a revolutionary change, but a large number of analysts and aviation media sources all seem to agree that confidence in ME3 airlines has taken a hit after this crisis, not anything that could be helped but just reminding people this is an unstable part of the world, even if UAE and Qatr themselves are perfectly safe, some of the neighbours not so much.

I do think people will think twice and may prefer to book with an airline operating via Asia, and as for Qantas, could they have an any more perfect environment than this to launch their sunrise flights?

This is the best advertisement QF could have hoped for in many ways, however jet fuel has also jumped 50%in a week - ultra long haul can’t be profitable once fuel price goes over a certain point particularly if consumers inflation is being hit too. It’s unlikely to continue but all rules have been thrown out the window …

 

[kamchatsky]

I’d happily fly there tomorrow if hostilities calmed down.

Even with Aust government "Do Not Travel" advice in place?

 

[jrfsp]

US press secretary now saying the operations to continue for another 4-6 weeks….

First it was a few days then a week now 4-6 weeks…….

 

[AuSammy]

https://loyaltylobby.com/2026/03/06/have-airline-fares-really-increased-during-the-gulf-crisis-to-take-advantage-of-travelers/

 

[JessicaTam]

9 January or 9 March? Assuming you mean 9 March.

As mentioned previously, your own rebooking was unnecessary and would have been fully covered under EU261 ex DUB, all the way to Canberra in business class.

As QR has cancelled the flight, that triggers the duty of care (for meals and accommodation if necessary) and for re-rerouting on another carrier to you final destination.

Although by doing it himself @IrishPete found PE to SIN and then ScootBiz to SYD instead of his original Y all the way. As QR only need to rebook in the original fare class I would say that is a win.

Certainty and an upgrade!

 

[JessicaTam]

Thanks everyone who has replied, I have enough points to book for two from Melbourne to LHR, one way - if I can keep my return flights as my first post , Q. can I hold two reward bookings for the same /similar dates and then cancel the one I don’t need nearer the departure date, I just need a back up and lucky enough to have the points to do another booking. Any downside apart from the 6000 point deduction on cancelling ? And flying in economy instead of first.

Just be careful if your trip to EU and back is all on the one ticket. Cancelling the first legs may jeopardise the trip home. Speak to QF on the phone just to make sure that the rest of your itinerary is protected.

If it is on two separate bookings disregard above!

 

[XavierP]

The Qatar Airways app didn't allow it initially, telling you to contact them, which was almost impossible. I kept checking the app, and after a few days it became possible. I have now received refund.

When were you supposed to fly and what route if you don't mind sharing? Thank you.

I am flying with QR but on Apr 2 and returning Apr 17. Have to look at my options but might hold off for a week or so..?

 

[lovestotravel]

SQ business is $21k this weekend Perth to London (10 day trip). From monday nothing for 3 weeks....

Economy was $6-8k!

Wow

I do feel sorry for those trying to travel this week and next and will end up having to pay crazy pricing.

Very glad I did my backup plan this time last week

 

[OATEK]

POI EK 435 BNE DXB scheduled to leave on time tonight, Friday 6th.

EK412 arrived in SYD about 20mins ago, and is scheduled to fly the next leg to CHC this morning.

 

[RooFlyer]

I have no doubt that the ME3 will resume their full capacity after the Iranian thing has blown over. Might take a month or two but then again it may be like Covid, where there was such a surge of pent up demand of people who couldn’t fly because of the war that they might actually be at capacity almost immediately.

Besides the actual demand, as now, you can be sure the Airlines will be going all out to recover their market share such as pricing. Anyone who thinks those airlines are just going to stay down and take it staying down is simply fooling themselves, or wishful thinking.

Remember the ‘thinking’ that it’ll take a long time for flights to resume? The war is not even over and Emirates are resuming.

 

[lovestotravel]

9 January or 9 March? Assuming you mean 9 March.

As mentioned previously, your own rebooking was unnecessary and would have been fully covered under EU261 ex DUB, all the way to Canberra in business class.

As QR has cancelled the flight, that triggers the duty of care (for meals and accommodation if necessary) and for re-rerouting on another carrier to you final destination.

IF you can get QR to do it though - It's a great theory but given the lack of other flights, not sure I'd want to be trying that.

My understanding, is that you can't just book yourself a flight/s and claim it back ?

 

[jrfsp]

Havnt seen this mentioned before but apparently every commercial flight in the UAE is being accompanied by a fighter jet,

Gulf nations pessimistic about what Trump will leave behind

While the cabaret of outlandish and contradictory statements and claims continues in Washington, there is considerable pragmatic pessimism in the Gulf about the mess Donald Trump will leave behind.

www.abc.net.au