A global travel crisis has emerged, impacting Australians both at home and abroad, following the recent US-Israel military action against Iran. This has led to a suspension of flights to and from key Middle Eastern airports, including Dubai, the world's busiest for international travel.
Approximately 115,000 Australians are currently in the region, with many facing disruptions and delays at affected airports. If you're one of them or have travel plans to the area, here's what you need to know.
Impact on Flights from Australia
The conflict has resulted in closed skies over Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates. This has affected airlines with stopovers in the Middle East, particularly Gulf carriers like Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad, which operate a significant number of flights to and from Australia.
According to the Australian Travel Industry Association, around 1.4 million Australians travel through the Middle East annually, mostly en route to or from Europe. Qantas, the national carrier, does not operate flights to Middle Eastern airports, but its partner Emirates does. Qantas has confirmed that its London flights via Singapore or Perth are unaffected.
However, if you've booked with Qantas to Europe, you may be boarding an Emirates plane that would typically transit through the Middle East. Emirates has suspended all operations to and from Dubai, impacting passengers traveling to or from Australia. Etihad has also halted all flights in and out of Abu Dhabi.
Flight Cancellations and Refunds
Etihad is offering full refunds to customers with flights booked for Monday or Tuesday. Those with bookings between February 28 and March 8 can reschedule with Etihad, departing on or before March 18, free of charge.
Emirates is also providing full refunds to customers scheduled to fly between Monday and Thursday this week. Passengers can also rebook on an alternate flight to their intended destination, departing on or before March 20, although the airline hasn't confirmed if this will be free.
Virgin Australia, which operates flights to Europe via its partner Qatar, has canceled eight services to or from Doha on Sunday. The airline is offering free booking changes, travel credits, or refunds for passengers booked on Doha services this week who no longer wish to travel.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) advises passengers to contact their airlines to understand their options. According to FlightAware, 7,760 flights were canceled globally between Saturday and Monday evening.
Should You Cancel Your Trip?
Jodi Bird, a travel and insurance expert at Choice, advises against canceling flights if you're not traveling this week, as it may make you ineligible for a refund. Bird highlights the ongoing issue of limited legal rights for airline passengers.
"The Australian Consumer Law states that you're subject to the airline's terms and conditions, and it doesn't specify what you're entitled to," Bird explains. "So you're at the mercy of the airline."
If you have travel plans for after this week and are considering canceling, Bird recommends waiting for the airline's decision and for them to contact you. Passengers without flexible tickets will lose their money if they cancel independently.
As reported by Guardian Australia last year, Australians hoping to avoid the Middle East found limited consumer rights when conflict in the region closed airspaces.
"If you cancel your flight today, it's considered a change of mind," says Dean Long, CEO of the Australian Travel Industry Association. "This means you'll have to pay a cancellation fee and a fare differential if you still want to travel."
The consumer watchdog says airlines must meet the guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law, but this depends on the circumstances of each case. If the customer initiates a cancellation, the consumer guarantees are unlikely to apply, according to an ACCC spokesperson.
Long advises seeking "good advice" before canceling.
Travel Insurance
Choice is unaware of any policies that cover war or military action like the current situation in the Middle East. While you should check your individual policy, the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) confirms that cover for loss or injury arising from war, armed conflict, or civil unrest is generally excluded.
ICA CEO Andrew Hall says the organization is working closely with Dfat, but it's up to the government to repatriate stranded Australians in the Middle East. Hall suggests that those with travel insurance who haven't left Australia yet may be covered under a "cancel for any reason clause" and should contact their insurer. However, those already overseas are unlikely to be covered.
This situation is a complex web of travel disruptions, legal rights, and insurance policies. It's a challenging time for travelers, and it's important to stay informed and seek professional advice where needed.
