PASSENGERS SCRAMBLE TO CHANGE FLIGHTS
The ripple effects of the Middle Eastern conflict have impacted travellers across the world.
Dubai was the world’s busiest international airport in 2024, according to Airports Council International, with its 92 million travellers topping London’s Heathrow by 13 million. Doha was the world’s 10th busiest international airport that year.
Virgin Australia, which leases planes operated by partner Qatar Airways for flights to Doha, said it had cancelled eight flights on Monday and was offering free booking changes.
Qatar Airways passengers at Sydney Airport interviewed by Reuters said they were left scrambling to change plans with no guidance from the airline.
Ascanio Giorgetti, 16, and his mother Alessandra Giorgetti, from Italy, arrived at Sydney Airport only to learn their Qatar Airways flight to Milan, via Doha, was cancelled without explanation.
They found an alternate route home, travelling a longer way via Los Angeles, on a different airline.
“We have no information at all, no answer on the phone from Qatar (Airways),” said Alessandra Giorgetti, who added the Qatar Airways flights had cost 4,000 euros (US$4,700).
Jenni and Doug Stewart, both 78, were travelling from Sydney to their home in Scotland via Doha when their flight turned around halfway to Doha.
“We were told the airspace had closed and we were going back to Sydney,” Jenni Stewart said. “Suddenly we veered towards Perth and we didn’t know why, and then it changed again and went to Melbourne.”
They then caught a separate flight back to Sydney, where they were seeking information.
“It was chaotic in Melbourne, hundreds of people looking for even the vaguest of information,” Doug Stewart said.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/iran-war-asian-airline-shares-us-israel-5962671
