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Kuwait Times
23-06-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Airlines weigh Middle East cancellations after US strikes
American, European carriers cancel flights to Gulf • BA cancels London flights NEW YORK: Airlines on Monday were weighing how long to suspend Middle East flights as a conflict which has already cut off major flight routes entered a new phase after the US attacked key Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran vowed to defend itself. Cancellations in recent days to typically resilient aviation hubs such as Dubai, the world's busiest international airport, and Qatar's Doha by international carriers show how aviation industry concerns about the region have escalated. The usually busy airspace stretching from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean has been largely empty of commercial air traffic for 10 days since Zionist entity began strikes on Iran on June 13, as airlines divert, cancel and delay flights through the region due to airspace closures and safety concerns. Finnair was the first to announce a prolonged suspension of flights to Doha, with cancellations until June 30. Leading Asian carrier Singapore Airlines, which described the situation as 'fluid', moved to cancel flights to Dubai through to Tuesday, having previously cancelled only its Sunday service. Air France KLM, IAG-owned Iberia and British Airways, and Kazakhstan's Air Astana all cancelled flights to either Doha or Dubai both on Sunday and Monday. Air France also cancelled flights to Riyadh and said it would suspend flights to and from Beirut, Lebanon until Wednesday included. A spokesperson for Iberia said the carrier has not made a decision regarding later flights. BA said its teams were keeping the situation under review. Carriers are likely avoiding airports in UAE and Qatar and, to a lesser extent, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, due to concerns that Iran or its proxies will target drone or missile attacks on US military bases in these countries, aviation risk consultancy Osprey Flight Solutions said. With Russian and Ukrainian airspace also closed to most airlines due to years of war, the Middle East had become a more important route for flights between Europe and Asia. Amid missile and air strikes during the past 10 days, airlines have routed north via the Caspian Sea or south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Added to increased fuel and crew costs from these long detours and cancellations, carriers also face a potential hike in jet fuel costs as oil prices rise following the US attacks. Australia-based Flight Centre Travel Group said it is getting a small number of customer requests to route journeys to Europe away from Middle Eastern hubs. 'The most common transfer hubs that we're seeing requested are Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Johannesburg, or even direct between Perth and London,' said Graham Turner, CEO of Australia-based Flight Centre Travel Group. Airspace risks Proliferating conflict zones are an increasing operational burden on airlines, as aerial attacks raise worries about accidental or deliberate shoot-downs of commercial air traffic. Location spoofing and GPS interference around political hotspots, where ground-based GPS systems broadcast incorrect positions which can send commercial airliners off course, are also a growing issue for commercial aviation. Flightradar24 told Reuters it had seen a 'dramatic increase' in jamming and spoofing in recent days over the Gulf. SkAI, a Swiss company that runs a GPS disruption map, late on Sunday said it had observed more than 150 aircraft spoofed in 24 hours there. Safe Airspace, a website run by OPSGROUP, a membership-based organization that shares flight risk information, said US attacks on Iran's nuclear sites could heighten the threat to American operators in the region. This could raise additional airspace risks in Gulf states like Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, it said. In the days before the US strikes, American Airlines suspended flights to Qatar, and United Airlines and Air Canada did the same with flights to Dubai. They have yet to resume. While international airlines are shying away from the region, local carriers in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq are tentatively resuming some flights after widespread cancellations. Zionist entity is ramping up flights to help people return home as well as leave. A handful of so-called rescue flights landed in the country on Monday morning, with 24 in total scheduled for the day. The country's Airports Authority said that airlines would resume outbound flights on Monday, with a limit of 50 passengers. Airline El Al on Sunday said it had received applications to leave the country from about 25,000 people in about a day. BA cancels flights Meanwhile, British Airways cancelled flights between London's Heathrow Airport and Dubai and Doha on Sunday following US strikes on Iran and fears that the situation in the Middle East could deteriorate. 'As a result of recent events, we have adjusted our flight schedule to ensure the safety of our customers and crew,' a BA spokesperson said, confirming that outgoing and incoming flights between Heathrow and Dubai or Doha were cancelled. A British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Dubai was diverted to Zurich on Saturday night, according to the tracking website Flightradar24. The BA website showed no flights available for Sunday or Monday when AFP checked for those routes, but flights were still available from Tuesday onward. BA did not confirm when the flights would resume, but said it would keep the situation under review. The airline typically flies three times a day between London Heathrow and Dubai, and two times to the Qatari capital. The US carried out strikes against Iranian nuclear sites overnight Saturday to Sunday after over a week of deadly missile exchanges between Zionist entity and Iran. Zionist entity closed its airspace after it launched a bombing campaign against Iran on June 13 - briefly reopening it on Sunday for repatriation flights. Several airlines last week cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran and other Middle East destinations, with Iraq, Jordan and Syria also closing their airspaces at the start of the latest fighting. Emirates and Qatar Airways were still running flights from Heathrow to Dubai and Doha. — Agencies
Observer
23-06-2025
- Business
- Observer
Airlines weigh Middle East cancellations after US strikes in Iran
Airlines on Monday were weighing how long to suspend Middle East flights as a conflict which has already cut off major flight routes entered a new phase after the U.S. attacked key Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran vowed to defend itself. Cancellations in recent days to usually resilient aviation hubs like Dubai, the world's busiest international airport, and Qatar's Doha by international carriers show how aviation industry concerns about the region have escalated. The usually busy airspace stretching from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean has been largely empty of commercial air traffic for 10 days since Israel began strikes on Iran on June 13, as airlines divert, cancel and delay flights through the region due to airspace closures and safety concerns. Leading Asian carrier Singapore Airlines, which described the situation as "fluid", moved to cancel flights to Dubai through to Tuesday, having previously cancelled only its Sunday service. IAG group member Iberia cancelled Sunday's and Monday's Doha flights after making its own assessment, a spokesperson said. It has not made a decision regarding later flights. Air France KLM cancelled flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh on Sunday and Monday, and Finnair cancelled flights from Doha until at least Tuesday. Kazakhstan's Air Astana cancelled flights to Dubai on Monday. However, some international airlines were expecting to resume services. Flightradar24 departure boards show British Airways, owned by IAG, was set to resume Dubai and Doha flights on Monday after cancelling routes to and from those airports on Sunday. With Russian and Ukrainian airspace also closed to most airlines due to years of war, the Middle East had become a more important route for flights between Europe and Asia. Amid missile and air strikes during the past 10 days, airlines have routed north via the Caspian Sea or south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Added to increased fuel and crew costs from these long detours and cancellations, carriers also face a potential hike in jet fuel costs as oil prices rise following the U.S. attacks. Australia-based Flight Centre Travel Group said it is getting a small number of customer requests to route journeys to Europe away from Middle Eastern hubs. "The most common transfer hubs that we're seeing requested are Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Johannesburg, or even direct between Perth and London," said Graham Turner, CEO of Australia-based Flight Centre Travel Group. AIRSPACE RISKS Proliferating conflict zones are an increasing operational burden on airlines, as aerial attacks raise worries about accidental or deliberate shoot-downs of commercial air traffic. Location spoofing and GPS interference around political hotspots, where ground-based GPS systems broadcast incorrect positions which can send commercial airliners off course, are also a growing issue for commercial aviation. Flightradar24 told Reuters it had seen a "dramatic increase" in jamming and spoofing in recent days over the Persian Gulf. SkAI, a Swiss company that runs a GPS disruption map, late on Sunday said it had observed more than 150 aircraft spoofed in 24 hours there. Safe Airspace, a website run by OPSGROUP, a membership-based organisation that shares flight risk information, said U.S. attacks on Iran's nuclear sites could heighten the threat to American operators in the region. This could raise additional airspace risks in Gulf states like Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, it said. In the days before the U.S. strikes, American Airlines suspended flights to Qatar, and United Airlines and Air Canada did the same with flights to Dubai. They have yet to resume. While international airlines are shying away from the region, local carriers in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq are tentatively resuming some flights after widespread cancellations. Israel is ramping up flights to help people return home, and leave. The country's Airports Authority says that so-called rescue flights to the country would expand on Monday with 24 a day, although each flight would be limited to 50 passengers. From Monday, Israeli airlines will start to operate outbound flights, the authority said. Israeli airline El Al on Sunday said it had received applications to leave the country from about 25,000 people in about a day.
The Star
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Airlines weigh Middle East cancellations after US strikes in Iran
SOUTH-EAST ASIA (Reuters): Airlines on Monday were weighing how long to suspend Middle East flights as a conflict which has already cut off major flight routes entered a new phase after the U.S. attacked key Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran vowed to defend itself. Cancellations in recent days to typically resilient aviation hubs such as Dubai, the world's busiest international airport, and Qatar's Doha by international carriers show how aviation industry concerns about the region have escalated. The usually busy airspace stretching from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean has been largely empty of commercial air traffic for 10 days since Israel began strikes on Iran on June 13, as airlines divert, cancel and delay flights through the region due to airspace closures and safety concerns. Finnair was the first to announce a prolonged suspension of flights to Doha, with cancellations until June 30. Leading Asian carrier Singapore Airlines, which described the situation as "fluid", moved to cancel flights to Dubai through to Tuesday, having previously cancelled only its Sunday service. Air France KLM, IAG-owned Iberia and British Airways, and Kazakhstan's Air Astana all cancelled flights to either Doha or Dubai both on Sunday and Monday. Air France also cancelled flights to Riyadh and said it would suspend flights to and from Beirut, Lebanon until Wednesday included. A spokesperson for Iberia said the carrier has not made a decision regarding later flights. BA said its teams were keeping the situation under review. Carriers are likely avoiding airports in UAE and Qatar and, to a lesser extent, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, due to concerns that Iran or its proxies will target drone or missile attacks on U.S. military bases in these countries, aviation risk consultancy Osprey Flight Solutions said. With Russian and Ukrainian airspace also closed to most airlines due to years of war, the Middle East had become a more important route for flights between Europe and Asia. Amid missile and air strikes during the past 10 days, airlines have routed north via the Caspian Sea or south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Added to increased fuel and crew costs from these long detours and cancellations, carriers also face a potential hike in jet fuel costs as oil prices rise following the U.S. attacks. Australia-based Flight Centre Travel Group said it is getting a small number of customer requests to route journeys to Europe away from Middle Eastern hubs. "The most common transfer hubs that we're seeing requested are Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Johannesburg, or even direct between Perth and London," said Graham Turner, CEO of Australia-based Flight Centre Travel Group. AIRSPACE RISKS Proliferating conflict zones are an increasing operational burden on airlines, as aerial attacks raise worries about accidental or deliberate shoot-downs of commercial air traffic. Location spoofing and GPS interference around political hotspots, where ground-based GPS systems broadcast incorrect positions which can send commercial airliners off course, are also a growing issue for commercial aviation. Flightradar24 told Reuters it had seen a "dramatic increase" in jamming and spoofing in recent days over the Persian Gulf. SkAI, a Swiss company that runs a GPS disruption map, late on Sunday said it had observed more than 150 aircraft spoofed in 24 hours there. Safe Airspace, a website run by OPSGROUP, a membership-based organisation that shares flight risk information, said U.S. attacks on Iran's nuclear sites could heighten the threat to American operators in the region. This could raise additional airspace risks in Gulf states like Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, it said. In the days before the U.S. strikes, American Airlines suspended flights to Qatar, and United Airlines and Air Canada did the same with flights to Dubai. They have yet to resume. While international airlines are shying away from the region, local carriers in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq are tentatively resuming some flights after widespread cancellations. Israel is ramping up flights to help people return home as well as leave. A handful of so-called rescue flights landed in the country on Monday morning, with 24 in total scheduled for the day. The country's Airports Authority said that Israeli airlines would resume outbound flights on Monday, with a limit of 50 passengers. Israeli airline El Al on Sunday said it had received applications to leave the country from about 25,000 people in about a day. (Reporting by Jack Queen in New York and Lisa Barrington in Seoul; additional reporting by Inti Landauro in Madrid; Editing by Sonali Paul, Kate Mayberry and Louise Heavens) - Reuters
Business Times
23-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Airlines weigh Middle East cancellations after US strikes in Iran
[NEW YORK/SEOUL] Airlines on Monday (Jun 23) were weighing how long to suspend Middle East flights as a conflict which has already cut off major flight routes entered a new phase after the US attacked key Iranian nuclear sites and Teheran vowed to defend itself. Cancellations in recent days to usually resilient aviation hubs like Dubai, the world's busiest international airport, and Qatar's Doha by international carriers show how aviation industry concerns about the region have escalated. The usually busy airspace stretching from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean has been largely empty of commercial air traffic for 10 days since Israel began strikes on Iran on Jun 13, as airlines divert, cancel and delay flights through the region due to airspace closures and safety concerns. Leading Asian carrier Singapore Airlines, which described the situation as 'fluid', moved to cancel flights to Dubai through to Tuesday, having previously cancelled only its Sunday service. IAG group member Iberia cancelled Sunday's and Monday's Doha flights after making its own assessment, a spokesperson said. It has not made a decision regarding later flights. Air France KLM cancelled flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh on Sunday and Monday, and Finnair cancelled flights from Doha until at least Tuesday. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Kazakhstan's Air Astana cancelled flights to Dubai on Monday. However, some international airlines were expecting to resume services. Flightradar24 departure boards show British Airways, owned by IAG, was set to resume Dubai and Doha flights on Monday after cancelling routes to and from those airports on Sunday. With Russian and Ukrainian airspace also closed to most airlines due to years of war, the Middle East had become a more important route for flights between Europe and Asia. Amid missile and air strikes during the past 10 days, airlines have routed north via the Caspian Sea or south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Added to increased fuel and crew costs from these long detours and cancellations, carriers also face a potential hike in jet fuel costs as oil prices rise following the US attacks. Australia-based Flight Centre Travel Group said it is getting a small number of customer requests to route journeys to Europe away from Middle Eastern hubs. 'The most common transfer hubs that we're seeing requested are Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Johannesburg, or even direct between Perth and London,' said Graham Turner, CEO of Australia-based Flight Centre Travel Group. Airspace risks Proliferating conflict zones are an increasing operational burden on airlines, as aerial attacks raise worries about accidental or deliberate shoot-downs of commercial air traffic. Location spoofing and GPS interference around political hotspots, where ground-based GPS systems broadcast incorrect positions which can send commercial airliners off course, are also a growing issue for commercial aviation. Flightradar24 told Reuters it had seen a 'dramatic increase' in jamming and spoofing in recent days over the Persian Gulf. SkAI, a Swiss company that runs a GPS disruption map, late on Sunday said it had observed more than 150 aircraft spoofed in 24 hours there. Safe Airspace, a website run by OPSGROUP, a membership-based organisation that shares flight risk information, said US attacks on Iran's nuclear sites could heighten the threat to American operators in the region. This could raise additional airspace risks in Gulf states like Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, it said. In the days before the US strikes, American Airlines suspended flights to Qatar, and United Airlines and Air Canada did the same with flights to Dubai. They have yet to resume. While international airlines are shying away from the region, local carriers in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq are tentatively resuming some flights after widespread cancellations. Israel is ramping up flights to help people return home, and leave. The country's Airports Authority says that so-called rescue flights to the country would expand on Monday with 24 a day, although each flight would be limited to 50 passengers. From Monday, Israeli airlines will start to operate outbound flights, the authority said. Israeli airline El Al on Sunday said it had received applications to leave the country from about 25,000 people in about a day. REUTERS
West Australian
17-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Smoothing out the business of business travel
Upgraded business cabins, new non-stop flights and better connections are set to transform corporate travel for Australian professionals, believes the team at Corporate Traveller. Corporate Traveller is a Flight Centre Travel Group offshoot which just handles business travel. And, globally, that forecast to be worth $2.374 trillion by the end of 2025. The Corporate Traveller team reckons 2025 will be a 'breakout year' for corporate travel innovation, and has identified key airline upgrades which it believes will redefine business travel this year: 'With a focus on convenience and efficiency, these upgrades reflect the growing demand for smarter, more tailored travel experiences.' Tom Walley, the Australian-based global managing director at Corporate Traveller, says: 'The aviation industry is stepping up in ways we haven't seen in years as passenger volumes grow quarter on quarter. Both Perth and Melbourne have already surpassed pre-pandemic international travel levels and our own data shows 40 per cent of Australian businesses plan to increase their travel in the 2025 financial year. 'This recovery is driving targeted investments from airlines, spanning upgraded cabins, expanded routes, and improved connectivity to meet demand.' Tom says innovations like Emirates' next-generation business class on its Boeing 777 blends luxury with productivity. 'These changes go beyond incremental improvements,' he says. 'They're redefining how Australians travel and work, setting a new standard for the modern business journey.' The Corporate Traveller team has picked five airline enhancements that it believes will be game changers for Australia's business travellers. 1. Non-stop flights to key global markets Qantas is planning to introduce new direct flights to destinations such as Athens, Chicago, Las Vegas and Seattle this year. They will mean 220,000 extra seats over a 12-month period, starting from February. Tom says: 'Qantas' expansion of non-stop flights is a pivotal development for Australian business travellers. Direct access to key international markets means reduced travel times and increased efficiency, allowing professionals to focus more on their business objectives and less on transit. 'Beyond that, Chicago, Las Vegas and Seattle are particularly significant for business travellers with Chicago being a major hub for finance, tech and manufacturing, while Vegas is the heart of global conferences and trade shows. As the home of Microsoft and Amazon, Seattle is also an important destination for tech professionals, while Athens is a growing gateway to Southern Europe.' 2. Cathay Pacific raises the bar with all-new Aria Suite The Corporate Traveller team is excited about the Aria Suite, which was retrofitted in Boeing 777-300ER aircraft launched early in 2025. Each suite has a full, lie-flat bed with sliding privacy doors and 4K entertainment system and marble topped surfaces. Tom says: 'Cathay Pacific's Aria Suite is a game changer for Australian business travellers, particularly for those flying to key hubs in Asia and beyond. The ability to customise your environment, whether to rest, work or relax, ensures professionals can optimise their in-flight time and arrive at their destinations ready to perform. These upgrades set a new standard for long-haul excellence. 'Beyond comfort, the Aria Suite reflects a broader shift toward creating in-flight 'office in the sky' experiences, catering to the evolving needs of business travellers who demand flexibility and productivity.' 3. Emirates unveils the new Boeing 777 business class Following Cathay Pacific's introduction of the Aria Suite, Emirates is also revamping business class on the Boeing 777 aircraft, with fully enclosed privacy suites, lie-flat beds and a personal minibar. Each suite has a touchscreen tablet for seat and lighting controls, and there is high-speed wifi. 'These upgrades are designed to meet the growing demand for productivity and comfort,' says Tom. 'Emirates' move underlines an emerging 'luxury-plus-productivity' model that enables business travellers to capitalise on flight hours as an extension of the work day, without compromising on comfort.' 4. Virgin and Qatar alliance unlocks global networks The partnership between Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways improves connectivity for corporate travellers. It is expected to launch in mid-2025, pending ACCC ratification. Tom says: 'This partnership isn't just about adding destinations; it's about creating a seamless travel experience for businesses. By combining Virgin Australia's domestic expertise with Qatar Airways' global network, this alliance will simplify complex itineraries and offer more flexibility and access to some of the world's fastest-growing economic hubs. 'Australian travellers can expect more choice, competitive pricing and streamlined loyalty benefits — elements that promise to reshape the competitive landscape in business travel.' 5. New business class lounges Business travellers can look forward to a wave of premium lounge upgrades this year, with the long-awaited flagship First Lounge at Heathrow Airport being a standout. It is set to open by late 2025. Its opening will align with the launch of Qantas Project Sunrise direct flights between the UK, New York and Australia's east coast. Tom says: 'From more efficient routes to luxe on-ground experiences, the coming year marks a paradigm shift for Australian corporate travel. For businesses navigating the global stage, these airline innovations offer a vital strategic edge that make every hour in transit an opportunity for productivity, networking and growth.'
