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<\/p>\nAustralians are choosing cheaper airfares over safer flights to get to Europe by transiting through the Middle East, despite federal government warnings about escalating conflict, airspace closures and missile strikes.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
The month-long war has caused chaos in one of the world’s busiest aviation regions, with thousands of flights cancelled globally since the conflict began.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Middle Eastern carriers are now slashing their fares, with Sydney to London flights for next month being sold for as little as $1,400 return, while some Asian and American airlines are charging more than three times that for the same period.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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There is currently a “do not travel” warning in place for much of the Middle East, including Dubai. (ABC News: Lucas Hill)<\/p>\n
“What we’re seeing is that at these price points, people are taking the plunge, they’re looking at the fares, the service these airlines provide, and deciding it’s worth the risk,” Australian Travel Industry Association CEO Dean Long said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said both Emirates and Qatar were preparing to add more cheap flights over the coming weeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“We had about 153 flights [per week] prior to the conflict and we will be getting back to somewhere between 70 and 80 flights a week from Australia through to the Middle East,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Australian Travel Industry Association CEO Dean Long says many people are still booking flights via the busy aviation hub. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)<\/p>\n
“The Middle East will likely remain cheaper than other routes for some time, simply because people are nervous and demand hasn’t fully returned.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
But he said, while tensions in the region had rattled traveller confidence, many Australians were continuing with their long-booked flights.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Planes heading to the Middle East aren’t 100 per cent full, but they’re very well patronised \u2026 over 80 per cent at the moment,” Mr Long said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A new ‘kangaroo route?’ Qantas shifts strategy as Middle East routes collapse<\/a><\/p>\n Qantas will increase capacity on flights between Australia and Europe after Easter, which experts say may see the “kangaroo route” evolve.<\/p>\n However, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has added much of the Middle East, including Dubai, to its “do not travel” list, including stopovers.\u00a0<\/p>\n Smartraveller advises Australians not to travel to Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, the UAE and Yemen.\u00a0<\/p>\n It has also asked travellers to reconsider the need to travel to Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia and exercise a high degree of caution in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Egypt and Turkey.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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