Airline ticket prices soar on Asia-Europe routes after Gulf airport closures

Flight prices between Asia and Europe have jumped sharply after key airports in the Middle East closed due to the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. Many popular flight routes are fully booked for days, according to airline websites. Major Gulf airports, like Dubai, which is the busiest international airport in the world and usually sees over 1,000 flights daily, remained shut for a fourth day on Tuesday. This has reduced flight options on busy routes from Australia to Europe, where Emirates and Qatar Airways usually hold a large share of the market. Australia’s Flight Centre Travel Group reported a 75% rise in calls to its stores and emergency help lines since the crisis started. Andrew Stark, the Global Managing Director, stated that their teams are working non-stop to assist affected customers. He added, "Australians are very resilient and are already rebooking flights to the UK and Europe using alternative routes through China, Singapore, and other Asian airports, as well as North America through places like Houston." Airlines that provide direct flights from Asia to Europe can avoid the closed airspace in the Middle East by flying north over the Caucasus and Afghanistan or south through Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. However, these routes may increase travel times and fuel consumption, which could raise costs since oil prices have surged. This situation may lead to higher ticket prices in the long run. Subhas Menon, the head of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, noted, "Currently, the entire Middle East is off-limits, which is expensive for some airlines. If Europe can only be accessed at a high cost, it will hurt airline profits. Ultimately, the cost to pay is connectivity."