Latest news with #flightdisruption
Independent Singapore
a day ago
- Independent Singapore
Singapore-bound travellers stranded as Middle East airspace closures ripple through Doha and Dubai
SINGAPORE: Thousands of travellers, including many headed to or returning from Singapore remain stranded at major Middle Eastern transit hubs — flight delays and cancellations continue to plague Doha's Hamad International Airport and Dubai International Airport, two of the busiest in the world. The disruption follows a sudden closure of airspace by Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, in response to rising regional tensions after Iran's missile strike on a US military base in Doha earlier this week. Long waits, little clarity At Hamad International , Singapore-bound travellers described long queues and scant updates on alternative arrangements. Some reported not being provided any accommodation , adding to frustrations amid the chaos. Meanwhile, Dubai International Airport — which handled over 92 million passengers in 2024 — saw a backlog of delays even after briefly resuming operations. According to FlightRadar24, more than 145 flights were cancelled and over 450 were delayed on Tuesday alone, Reuters reported. Ripple effects of a tense region The closures of airspace by Gulf countries, announced late Monday, have thrown air traffic into disarray. These air corridors are vital for routes between Europe and Asia, making hubs like Dubai and Doha especially vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions. See also YouTuber helps stop attack on Singaporean student in London Qatar Airways has said it is working to restore its flight schedules but cautioned that 'delays and diversions may continue through Thursday'. Dubai authorities similarly warned of ongoing disruptions despite the resumption of most services. Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue a specific advisory on transits through Doha or Dubai, but officials are closely monitoring the situation. MFA urges caution amid conflict In a statement at Changi Airport, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim urged Singaporeans to postpone non-essential travel to Middle Eastern areas affected by the escalating conflict. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has advised citizens to stay updated on official travel advisories and register with the MFA's eRegister system when travelling to high-risk regions. As of Wednesday night, Singapore-bound flights from both Doha and Dubai remained subject to change. Travellers are advised to check with their airlines before heading to the airport and to factor in additional travel time if planning layovers in affected cities. See also Xenophobic anger rears its ugly head at ATM machine in Singapore While regional governments and airport operators scramble to decongest terminals and resume schedules, the incident has once again highlighted the vulnerabilities of global aviation to geopolitical flashpoints.
CNA
a day ago
- CNA
Passenger dragged off Thai Lion Air flight after row over emergency exit seat request
SINGAPORE: A passenger was dragged off a Thai Lion Air plane on Wednesday (Jun 25) after reportedly demanding a change of seats as his window seat did not have enough legroom. The man became upset and got into a row with flight attendants after his request to be moved to an emergency exit seat was denied, according to the New York Post and People magazine. Such seats are more expensive as they typically provide more legroom compared to standard economy seats. In a viral video posted on X, authorities were seen yanking the passenger, who was wearing a bright orange Garfield shirt, out of his seat. The man's arms were held together as he was dragged down the aisle and off the plane, with at least five people accompanying him. Fellow passengers called the man "selfish" and told him to "get off the plane", while another was heard saying: "When you said apologise for the first thing I said, don't forget that." The Mirror reported that the man's refusal to cooperate meant that the plane's departure from Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport was delayed by an hour. The US Federal Aviation Administration noted in August 2024 that airlines had reported more than 1,240 unruly passenger cases that year. Some airlines like Ryanair have opted to tackle disruptive behaviour by imposing fines. Ryanair, Europe's biggest airline by passenger numbers, said in a statement on Jun 12 that "disruptive passengers whose unruly behaviour" result in their removal from aircraft would be fined €500 (US$585).
Reuters
2 days ago
- Reuters
Fire alarm prompts temporary evacuation of FAA air traffic center in New Mexico, disrupting flights
June 26 (Reuters) - A fire alarm forced the evacuation by air traffic controllers of the Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center in New Mexico, disrupting flights and leading to temporary ground stops at Phoenix and Albuquerque. The FAA said no fire was detected but the FAA put a ground stop in place and controllers have returned to work. Flights were avoiding airspace around the center but are now resuming use after the ground stops were lifted.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Glasgow tourists stranded as two major airports face 'near-total shutdown'
Glasgow holidaymakers have been left stranded after a nationwide strike in Belgium triggered a near-total shutdown at two major airports. Both Brussels and Charleroi airports were forced to suspend all outbound flights today, June 25, due to industrial action led by airport security staff protesting against government budget cuts and staff shortages. Estimates suggest the strike has grounded between 50 and 70 UK-bound flights, leaving between 9000 and 12,600 Brits stranded. READ MORE: Check out these 13 iconic Scottish words just added to the dictionary Glasgow Airport typically operates five to seven daily services—via codeshares or direct flights—to Brussels and Charleroi, all of which have been affected by the walkout. Experts at AirAdvisor have warned that the scale of disruption is significantly larger than usual, coinciding with peak summer travel planning and causing widespread difficulties for passengers. There are growing concerns about further disruption, with the possibility of more strikes throughout the peak summer months of July and August. Trade unions have indicated they may call further action every four to six weeks if their demands remain unmet, which could see an impact on 10% to 15% of summer bookings to Belgium. READ MORE: Oasis announce release of more tickets for reunion tour - Here's how to get yours The ripple effect of grounded flights may extend across the region, with potential knock-on delays at major neighbouring airports including Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol, and Frankfurt. Experts have warned that delays are expected and advised that if passengers face delays of more than five hours, travellers are entitled to either a replacement flight or a full refund at no extra cost. Airlines have already cancelled numerous services and are struggling to secure alternative flights for affected passengers. Cancelled flight passengers should be offered the choice of rebooking or a refund if they opt not to travel. The strike has also led to baggage handling delays due to a shortage of staff. The extensive disruption means missed connections are likely throughout the region. READ MORE: Oasis gives fans sneak peak at merch pop-up shops ahead of huge tour AirAdvisor has issued advice for Glasgow passengers impacted by the strike: Check flight status regularly via your airline's website or app. Utilise flexible booking options under airline change policies or travel insurance, which may cover losses between £150 and £1,200. Consider rerouting via alternative hubs such as Amsterdam (KLM) or Paris (Air France), though this may extend travel time by two to four hours. Keep all receipts for expenses and avoid booking tight layovers in affected regions. Check FCDO travel advice for updates on Belgium and monitor airline apps for real-time notifications. Contact customer service directly for rebooking, as other communication channels may face 24-hour response delays. Finally, AirAdvisor recommends that those planning trips to Belgium consider postponing travel until mid-July, when strike activity may subside.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Qantas, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways' refund message to affected customers
Some of the world's biggest airlines were forced to cancel or reduce flights in and out of Qatar's airspace on Tuesday. The State of Qatar made the decision after Iran fired missiles at the United States' Al Udeid air base in Qatar amid the Iran-Israel conflict. While the closure only lasted a few hours, it caused a considerable backlog of disruption at Doha Hamad International Airport – considered one of the world's top 10 busiest airports based on international traffic with around 140,000 passengers passing through per day. Major airlines such as Qantas, Emirates, Virgin Australia, Etihad, British Airways and Singapore Airlines were impacted. One of the heaviest hit was Qatar Airways — it runs a huge global operation out of the Doha airport, connecting more than 170 destinations around the world. Qatar Airways flight disruptions/refunds Qatar Airways said following the temporary closure of Qatari airspace on June 23, it is now making progress in restoring its schedule with warnings of possible disruptions until June 26 (Thursday). 'Those who wish to change their travel dates may do so without paying a fee until July 15, 2025,' it said in a recent statement. 'Customers who no longer wish to travel can opt to receive a refund of the unused value of their tickets, without any cancellation fee being applied.' The airline advised all passengers travelling to check or the Qatar Airways app for updated flight information. Meanwhile, the Middle Eastern carrier has temporarily cancelled flights to Iran, Iraq and Syria due to the current situation in the region. 'Qatar Airways fully complies with international aviation regulations for safe aircraft routes. Passengers safety remains our highest priority,' a statement read. Qantas refunds Qantas said it is offering additional flexibility to passengers who have booked a flight through Qantas to, from or via Dubai, that is operated by Emirates, for travel up to June 27, 2025. 'If you wish to change your booking or no longer wish to travel, we're offering a fee-free refund, Flight Credit or fee-free date change for flights booked before June 23 for travel to June 27, 2025,' a statement on Tuesday read. 'If you've booked directly with Qantas, contact us on 13 13 13 within Australia, or contact your local Qantas office if you're outside of Australia, for assistance. 'If you've booked through a Travel Agent, please contact your agent directly for assistance.' Qantas said it is continuing to closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East with services between Australia and Europe that were scheduled to depart on June 24 having operated as planned. The airline's Perth-Paris flight on Tuesday, however, had to turn back to Perth, while its Perth-London service was diverted to Singapore – all 199 passengers and 14 crew were accommodated overnight in Singapore. Emirates update Emirates issued a statement on Tuesday it had rerouted a number of flights en route to its base in Dubai on June 23, but there were no diversions. 'After a thorough and careful risk assessment, Emirates will continue to operate flights as scheduled, using flight paths well distanced from conflict areas,' it said in a statement. 'Some flights may incur delays due to longer reâ€'routings or airspace congestion, but Emirates' teams are working hard to keep to schedule and minimise any disruption or inconvenience to our customers.' It apologised to affected customers and advised the airline is working to assist passengers with rebooking, refunds, or alternative travel arrangements. 'Emirates will continue to actively monitor the situation, engage with relevant stakeholders, and adjust our operations in line with the latest updates,' the statement read. 'We adhere to all regulatory requirements for our operations, and follow bulletins issued by the aviation authorities.' Virgin Australia Virgin Australia, which has a 'wet lease' with Qatar Airlines, said two services had been impacted. 'VA1 (Sydney–Doha) diverted to Bengaluru and VA15 (Brisbane–Doha) diverted to Muscat. Both aircraft landed safely,' the airline said on Tuesday. 'Guest recovery is being co-ordinated by Qatar Airways, including support on the ground and assistance with onward travel arrangements. 'The safety and wellbeing of our people and customers is our number one priority.' Guests scheduled to travel on Virgin Australia services between Australia and Doha in the coming days are advised to closely monitor their flight information.' British Airways flight suspensions British Airways has suspended all flights between London Heathrow and Doha until June 25 (Wednesday), citing safety as their 'highest priority'. The airline confirmed all services scheduled to depart Heathrow between June 23 and 25 – and their return flights – have been cancelled following 'latest developments' in the region. While flights to Dubai continue to operate normally, British Airways is offering flexible rebooking options for affected passengers. Customers booked on flights to either Dubai or Doha until June 29 can change their travel dates free of charge to any flight up until July 13. The airline says its teams 'continue to keep the situation under review' but has not specified the exact nature of the safety concerns. Singapore Airlines cancels eight flights Singapore Airlines (SIA) cancelled eight flights to Dubai – two per day from Sunday through to June 25. The airline said it will be contacting all affected customers to inform them about the flight cancellations. 'Customers affected by the flight cancellations will be re-accommodated on alternative flights or can seek a full refund of the unused portion of their ticket,' a statement read. 'SIA customers who booked directly with us may use our Assistance Request Form to seek the refund. For bookings made through travel agents or partner airlines, customers are advised to contact their travel agent or purchasing airline directly for assistance.' The airline said as the situation remains fluid, other SIA flights between Singapore and Dubai may be affected. 'Customers may visit our Flight Status page for the latest information on their flights.' Etihad flights continue to operate, but not to Tel Aviv Etihad said flights are operating as scheduled but warned it has suspended all flights between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Tel Aviv (TLV) until and including July 15. 'Guests transiting through Abu Dhabi to connect to cancelled flights will not be accepted for travel from their point of origin,' the statement read. 'Impacted guests are being assisted with alternative travel arrangements. 'This remains a highly dynamic situation, and further changes or disruption, including sudden airspace closures or operational impact, may occur at short notice. Etihad continues to monitor developments closely in co-ordination with the relevant authorities and is taking all necessary precautions.' 'Don't cancel flights' The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) – the country's peak industry body – has advised Australian travellers to remain informed about the situation in the Middle East and, 'most importantly, not to cancel their flights'. 'The one thing we learned through Covid is don't cancel as it reduces the number of rights you have. Let the airline make that decision. This approach ensures your rights are protected and you get the support you need,' ATIA CEO Dean Long said. 'This evolving situation is understandably causing increasing anxiety, especially for travellers transiting through the Middle East,' he said. 'The most important thing Australians can do right now is not cancel their flight independently. 'If your airline cancels the flight, you are entitled to a full refund or rebooking. But if you cancel yourself, you could lose those rights entirely.' He said this applies across most airlines under Australian Consumer Law, although terms may vary based on your ticket and carrier. Mr Long added there are robust, methodical systems in place to manage these disruptions. 'It's critical that you don't make the decision to cancel without first speaking to your agent or airline,' he told 'Please be patient and wait to be contacted especially if you're not travelling in the next couple of days as there's a tremendous amount of work to be done helping those immediately impacted.'
