Hundreds of thousands of Australian travellers are expected to face impacts for weeks due to the military conflict in the Middle East which has grounded flights around the world.
More than 2,800 flights were cancelled on Sunday following the US-led airstrikes on Iran on February 28, with concerns delays could stretch into the coming weeks.
Smart Traveller issued a notice on Monday morning warning travellers to closely monitor events, even if their destination is not in the Middle East, as travel plans could be affected.
‘If you travel to or through the Middle East, you may be unable to leave if conflict escalates. Flights can change or stop at short notice. Roads and borders can close,’ Smart Traveller said in a statement.
‘Prioritise your safety, monitor events and follow the advice of local authorities. Make sure your travel insurance covers you for cancellations.
‘Conflict in the Middle East could impact safety and security elsewhere. There is a risk of reprisal attacks and further escalation. Protests and civil unrest may happen globally.’
While all airlines are avoiding flying over the region – one of the busiest air corridors in the world – passengers travelling elsewhere have also reported flight cancellations and delays.
Emirates, Qatar and Etihad Airways have temporarily suspended all operations to and from Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi until Monday night.
Passengers travelling to destinations other than the Middle East have been warned their plans could be affected by the ongoing military conflict
Airports across Australia are holding 30 aircrafts that had been grounded since Saturday
More than 2,800 flights were cancelled on Sunday around the world, with passengers expected to face lengthy delays once usual flight schedules resume
The airlines have warned schedules may change at short notice and once operations resume, delays to the flight schedule are expected.
For guests travelling on Emirates before or on March 5, options are to rebook on an alternate flight up to 20 days from the original date of travel or request a refund.
Guests holding Etihad tickets issued on or before February 28, with original travel dates up to March 3, may rebook free of charge onto Etihad-operated flights up to March 15.
Travellers on all Etihad flights until March 3 may request a full refund via the airline or through their travel agent.
Those travelling on Qatar Airways can request or refund or change their flights for the next seven days.
Passengers who booked through a travel agent should contact their agent directly.
Airline industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group, Henry Harteveldt, said there was ‘no way to sugarcoat’ the news for travellers.
‘You should prepare for delays or cancellations for the next few days as these attacks evolve and hopefully end,’ he told AP News.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said 115,000 Aussies are stranded in the Middle East
Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, said it could not calculate the number of travellers stranded worldwide.
It comes as the Albanese Government confirmed on Monday that 115,000 Australians have been left stranded in the Middle East.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong told ABC News Breakfast the government would wait to see if commercial planes would take off again, before considering repatriation flights.
‘First we need to see if commercial flights will restart, given the numbers of people in the region,’ she said.
‘The issue is not who is flying, it’s that people are not flying. So, you know, at the moment, we know that this is a very volatile situation.
‘I would urge people who are needing assistance to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.’
The Australian Government provides 24-hour consular emergency assistance and can be contacted from overseas via +61 2 6261 3305, or from within Australia via 1300 555 135.
