MIDDLE EAST: Advice for Australians caught in flight chaos

Airspace is closed across parts of the Middle East due to attacks by Israel and the USA and consequent retaliation from Iran. This has left thousands of Australian travellers stranded or scrambling to rearrange flights. If you’re travelling through the region in the coming days or stuck there right now, don’t panic and don’t cancel your ticket yourself. If you do, you could be foregoing a remedy provided by the airline or giving up some of your consumer rights.

Airlines are beginning to roll out rebooking options, but the rules vary by carrier and the time your flight was booked.

Which airlines are offering free changes?

This could all change, but here’s the latest guidance from major airlines commonly used by Australian travellers transiting the Middle East. But, also note that we still don’t know how long the conflict will last, so airlines are likely to re-adjust their booking windows as this evolves.

Etihad Airways

If your tickets were issued on or before 28 February 2026, with travel scheduled up to 7 March 2026, you can rebook free of charge onto Etihad-operated flights departing up to 18 March 2026. Here are details of the waiver.

Emirates

Passengers can rebook onto another Emirates flight to their intended destination for travel up to 20 March 2026.
If you booked through a travel agent, you’ll need to contact them; otherwise, contact Emirates directly. The airline hasn’t explicitly confirmed whether all rebookings are free of charge. You will see a pop-up with advice when you visit the Emirates Website.

Qatar Airways

Passengers with bookings between 28 February and 10 March 2026 can change travel dates free of charge, up to 14 days from the original travel date. You can check updated advice here.

Qantas

While Qantas does not operate flights through Middle Eastern hubs itself, some passengers travelling on Qantas tickets may still be affected if their itinerary includes partner flights through the region usually with Emirates via Dubai. Qantas is offering flexible rebooking options, fee-free date changes and refunds for affected passengers.

We’re offering additional flexibility for customers who have booked flights to/from or via the UAE, Qatar, Israel, Jordan and Oman through Qantas on partner airlines.

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).  

Qantas Website

Travellers may be re-routed via alternative hubs such as Singapore or other Asian gateways where seats are available. As with other airlines, customers are advised not to cancel their ticket themselves but instead wait for Qantas to contact them with rebooking options to ensure they retain eligibility for refunds, credits or fee-free changes.

Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia is offering free booking changes for passengers booked on its Doha services departing up to and including 6 March 2026. You can check on the most current advice here.

Which flights are currently suspended?

It looks like the affected airlines are gradually restoring services as airspace restrictions change. However, this could all change rapidly:

• Etihad Airways: flights to and from Abu Dhabi suspended until 14:00 UAE time on 4 March.
• Emirates: operations to and from Dubai suspended until 15:00 UAE time on 3 March.
• Qatar Airways: flights will resume once Qatari airspace reopens; the airline says updates will follow once authorities give clearance.
• Virgin Australia: flights between Australia and Doha cancelled 3–5 March, with no confirmed restart date yet.

Expect further updates as aviation authorities reopen airspace.

Which Australian routes are most affected?

For Australians travelling to Europe, the Middle East is normally the main transit corridor, which means disruptions ripple quickly through itineraries.

The most affected routes include:

• Sydney–Dubai / Melbourne–Dubai / Brisbane–Dubai on Emirates
• Sydney–Doha / Melbourne–Doha / Brisbane–Doha on Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia codeshare flights
• Sydney–Abu Dhabi / Melbourne–Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways

These flights connect into hundreds of onward services across Europe, the UK and Africa, so when the hubs pause operations, it can disrupt journeys far beyond the region.

Travellers heading to destinations such as London, Paris, Rome or Frankfurt may see itineraries rerouted through other global hubs.

Possible rerouting options

Airlines may move passengers onto alternative flights that avoid Middle Eastern hubs entirely. Common alternatives include:

• Via Singapore on Singapore Airlines
• Via Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific
• Via Tokyo on Japan Airlines or All Nippon Airways

These routings typically add several hours to journey times but allow travellers to bypass disrupted airspace.

Some airlines are also re-accommodating passengers on European carriers departing from Asian hubs, depending on availability.

However rmember 11,000 Australians are in the air via the Middle East each day, so demand on alternate routes, via Asia for example will be swamped. Airlines will be throwing as much additional capacity at these routes as they can at short notice, and, logistics permitting, that still means overwhelming demand.

Stuck in the Middle East? Here’s what to do

If you’re currently in the region waiting for flights to resume, there is no magic bullet for resolution. But, you should do the following:

1. Monitor your flight status frequently Use your airline’s website or app, but don’t phone unless you have no alternative. Call centres are being overwhelmed, and schedules are changing quickly.

2. Follow Smartraveller advice Smartraveller is updating warnings as airspace closures evolve.

3. Register with DFAT if you need help Australians needing assistance should register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade crisis system if you qualify so consular staff can contact you if needed.

The government has activated its 24/7 crisis centre to support Australians in the region. The contact numbers are:

• +61 2 6261 3305 (overseas)
• 1300 555 135 (in Australia).

Don’t cancel your flight yourself

This is one of the biggest mistakes travellers make during disruptions. If you cancel your booking, the airline may treat it as a voluntary change of plans, which could mean losing eligibility fo refunds, free rebooking and travel credits.

Instead, wait for the airline to cancel or change your flight and then accept the rebooking or refund options offered.

Evacuation flights?

There are no current plans for this. Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister has indicated that commercial flights will likely resume before repatriation flights are required, once regional airspace reopens.

Right now the core problem is that many parts of the region’s airspace are closed, so aircraft cannot operate.

Good news for stranded travellers

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have instructed hotels to extend stays for passengers stranded due to flight disruptions.

Reports indicate more than 20,000 travellers stuck in the country may have accommodation and meals covered while they wait for flights to resume.

2PAXfly Takeout

For Australians travelling through the Middle East in the coming days, things are going to be stressful, possibly more than they are now. Your airline and travel agent will do their best. However, sometimes they will not have answers for you, simply because there aren’t any. When will airspace reopen? Well, no one knows for sure. The travel industry is working on their best guess. So expect the unexpected.

In the meantime, expect delays, cancellations and rerouting. Don’t cancel your ticket yourself; let the airline make the first move. Use free rebooking policies where available, monitor Smartraveller updates, and register with DFAT if you’re in the region.

Once regional airspace reopens, airlines are expected to restore services quickly, but clearing the backlog of passengers affected by disruptions may take several days.

Patience and stoicism are required here.