Breaking News
Airspace closures and enhanced security measures introduced by civil and aviation authorities are resulting in:
- Temporary suspension of some long-haul routes while safety risks remain in place.
- Flight cancellations to and from major hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha — crucial transit points for Europe–Australia connections.
- Route adjustments and diversions to bypass conflict zones, leading to longer journey times and higher operating costs.
Travel Tips Before You Travel
- Confirm your flight with the airline to avoid surprises at the airport
- Subscribe to updates from airlines and local authorities for any changes or alerts
- Look into alternative routes that skip Gulf stopovers when possible
- If you’re flying soon, reach out to your travel advisor for advice and options
March 3, 2026: Flight Cancellations to Australia via Middle Eastern Stopovers
In recent days, rising tensions and military incidents involving the United States, Israel, and Iran have led to partial or full airspace closures across much of the Middle East. Key countries affected include Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, along with other major international hubs.
Several major airports in the region have temporarily shut down or limited operations, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha — critical transit points for flights to Australia.
The disruption has caused thousands of cancellations and delays worldwide, hitting some of the busiest routes between Europe, Asia, and Australia.
The main airlines operating Australia-bound flights through the Middle East are Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways.
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways has suspended all flights to and from Abu Dhabi until 2:00 PM UAE time on Wednesday, March 4, due to airspace closures in the Middle East. The airline plans to resume operations as soon as it is safe, prioritizing the well-being of passengers and staff.
Passengers holding EY (607) tickets issued by February 28, 2026, for travel through March 7, 2026, can:
- Rebook canceled flights or adjust their itineraries free of charge until March 18, 2026, with no penalties.
- Request a full refund for unused tickets, or a partial refund for tickets that have been partially used.
Emirates
Emirates has temporarily suspended all flights to and from Dubai until 3:00 PM UAE time on Tuesday, March 3. The situation is evolving continuously.
Passengers with bookings through March 5 can:
- Rebook on an alternative flight by March 20.
- Request a refund for their ticket.
It is strongly recommended to always check your flight status on the official website or with your travel agent before traveling.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways flights to and from Doha are temporarily suspended. Passengers with travel scheduled between February 28 and March 10, 2026, can:
- Change their departure date free of charge within 14 days of the original booking, or
- Request a refund for the unused portion of their ticket.
Due to a high volume of requests, call center wait times may be longer than usual. It’s recommended to contact the airline only if your travel is within the next 48 hours.
Other passengers can manage their bookings through the Qatar Airways website, mobile app, or via their travel agent.
Qantas
Qantas is offering flexible options for passengers holding 081 tickets issued by March 1, 2026, with travel planned between February 28 and March 7, 2026, to, from, or via the UAE, Qatar, Israel, Jordan, and Oman:
- Free rebooking on the same flight or with another airline (fare differences may apply if changing carrier).
- Ticket credit for future travel within the ticket’s validity (not applicable to group bookings).
- Full refund without penalties—or partial refund if the journey has already started—if the above options are not suitable.
All changes must be made before the scheduled departure and are subject to ticket conditions. Updated procedures and details are available on the official Qantas website or through authorized sales channels.
March 6, 2026: Flight Updates
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways is expected to resume a limited commercial flight schedule from 6 March 2026 between Abu Dhabi and selected key destinations. Passengers with existing bookings will be given priority on these flights.
Some routes will operate between 6 and 19 March, while other services remain temporarily suspended and will be gradually reinstated as conditions allow. All services remain subject to operational approvals and regional airspace conditions.
Due to the high number of requests, call center response times may be longer than usual.
For passengers:
- Check flight status on etihad.com before going to the airport.
- Ensure contact details in the booking are up to date to receive notifications.
Travel options:
- Tickets issued on or before 28 February 2026 with original travel dates up to 21 March 2026 can be rebooked free of charge on Etihad-operated flights until 15 May 2026.
- Passengers travelling up to 21 March may also request a refund online or through their travel agent.
Emirates
Emirates is operating a reduced flight schedule until further notice due to the limited reopening of airspace.
Flights to some destinations are currently operating, and passengers with existing bookings will have boarding priority.
Transit passengers in Dubai will only be accepted if their connecting flight is operating. Passengers are advised to go to the airport only if they have a confirmed booking.
Before heading to the airport, passengers should check their flight status, email notifications, and the latest operational updates online.
All city check-in locations in Dubai are temporarily closed.
Options for passengers with bookings between 28 February and 31 March:
- Rebooking: Passengers can change their booking to an alternative flight to the same destination, with travel completed by 30 April. Contact the travel agent or Emirates directly.
- Refund: Passengers may request a refund via the online refund form if the ticket was booked directly with Emirates, or through their travel agent.
Passengers are advised to ensure their contact details are up to date in the “Manage a Booking” section to receive updates.g.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways scheduled flight operations remain suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace. Flights will resume only when the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirms the safe reopening of the airspace.
The airline is working to organize additional relief flights where possible and will provide further updates once confirmed.
Affected passengers will be contacted directly with details regarding their flight, arrangements, and next steps.
Passengers are advised not to go to the airport unless they have received an official notification from the airline.
Customers are also advised to ensure their contact details are up to date on qatarairways.com or via the mobile app to receive important updates.
Qantas
Qantas offers special options for passengers holding 081 tickets issued on or before 6 March 2026, with travel scheduled between 28 February and 31 March 2026 to, from, or via the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Israel, Jordan, and Oman.
Options for passengers:
- Rebooking on the same operating carrier: free change to another flight with the same origin/destination and cabin, with new travel by 30 April 2026, with no fare difference or change fee (subject to availability in the same cabin).
- Rebooking on a different carrier: change without a change fee, but any fare difference and taxes must be paid by the passenger.
- Travel credit: retain the ticket value for future travel within the ticket validity (not permitted for group bookings).
- Refund: available if the above options are not suitable; no refund fee applies, and partial refunds are possible if the journey has already started.
Key conditions:
Refund requests must be submitted through the original point of purchase.
Changes must be made before the scheduled departure.
Flights that are no longer required must be cancelled before departure.
Original fare rules and conditions remain applicable for any subsequent changes.
Qantas will not cover additional costs such as hotels or other ground services related to the disruption.
If you haven’t booked your ticket yet, consider alternative routes with stopovers in Asia
East Asia – Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Hong Kong
Recommended airlines: Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways, Japan Airlines, Korean Air
Southeast Asia – Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur
Recommended airlines: Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines
⚠️ Note: Even Asian routes may experience cancellations or delays. In recent days, several Air India, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines flights have been disrupted or rescheduled. Always check official airline websites before traveling.
