Travel uncertainty continues. What to do if your flight is delayed or cancelled
As uncertainty over the conflict in the Middle East continues, travellers are warned it may take some time for the chaos caused to international flights to be resolved.
Doha Airport reopened its air space on Tuesday morning, after dozens of flights heading to the Middle East were diverted or cancelled when Iran attacked a US air base in Qatar overnight.
Flights from many airlines, including Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad and FlyDubai, had earlier been diverted.
Qantas confirmed that flight QF33 from Perth to Paris had been turned back.
Two Virgin flights operated by Qatar and three Qatar Airways flights from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth were also diverted.
Qatar, along with Doha and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, are popular stopover destinations for many Australians, especially those on long-haul flights to Europe.
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Qatar Airlines, which operates in partnership with Virgin Australia, confirmed that while the airspace had reopened, there would be run-on effects, including for flights in and out of Europe, Asia and North America from Australia.
“Once usual operations resume, we anticipate significant delays to our flight schedule,” the airline said.
Smartraveller, operated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has updated its advice for Australians, warning the airspace closure around transit hubs in the Middle East “may impact flights globally”.
“It may cause flight delays and cancellations,” Smartraveller said.
“Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East.”
Passengers are advised to contact their travel agent or airlines to confirm flights, and check their travel insurance coverage of cancellations, as well as keep an eye on travel advice changes.
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.
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 from Europe to Asia and Australia. 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.
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Safe Airspace, a website run by OPSGROUP, which shares flight risk information, noted on Sunday that US attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites could heighten the threat to American operators in the region.
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.
What to do if your flight is delayed
If your flight is delayed, your airline is required to notify you at least 45 minutes prior to take-off time. It must also provide status updates every half an hour with a new take-off time.
If your flight is cancelled, the airline must offer alternative flights or provide a full refund.
Will I get a refund?
If a flight is delayed for more than two hours, you can request the termination of the contract with your carrier and receive a full refund of the ticket price.
If your flight is cancelled and you don’t accept an alternative flight, termination of your contract will include a refund of the full value of the ticket price and any additional fees paid to complete the reservation such as for seat selection and baggage.
While uncertainty remains around air travel through the Middle East, passengers are advised to:
- Contact their airline to confirm flights before they leave home;
- Research where they’re going before booking. Read the latest Smartraveller advice for destinations and decide if they feel safe travelling there;
- Check travel insurance policies for coverage if a flight is cancelled;
- Check all terms and conditions regarding delays and cancellations with airlines before purchasing a ticket.
