The ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is severely disrupting global air travel, forcing airlines to reroute flights and leaving travelers facing unexpected costs and uncertainty. The conflict has led to widespread airspace closures across much of the Middle East due to missile and drone threats, causing thousands of flight cancellations, delays, and schedule changes worldwide. Many long-haul routes between Europe and Asia—traditionally passing through Gulf aviation hubs such as Dubai and Doha—have been significantly affected, driving up ticket prices and reducing available capacity.
Travelers across Australia and beyond say their long-planned holidays have been thrown into disarray. Natasha Earle, an accountant from Western Australia, said her family’s five-week European trip—booked nearly a year ago with Emirates—has become far more expensive as they reroute flights to avoid the conflict zone, adding about A$10,000 to their costs. Others have faced similar challenges, with some passengers driving across borders or rebooking flights through Asia or the United States after cancellations and airspace closures disrupted travel plans.
Airlines and industry analysts warn the conflict is creating ripple effects across the aviation sector. With Gulf carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways normally carrying a large share of traffic between Europe and the Pacific region, the disruption has shifted demand to Asian and European airlines. Rising oil prices and concerns over jet fuel supply are also putting pressure on airlines, prompting some carriers to cut flights or raise fuel surcharges as travelers increasingly avoid routes through the Middle East.
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