Australians planning to fly to Europe this summer face uncertainty over routes, insurance and safety, as well as rising prices, due to the Middle East war. Major airlines like Emirates and Qatar are still reeling from the conflict, operating limited flights to clear backlogs of stranded passengers.
Qantas has increased fares on international routes, citing rising jet fuel costs. The airline's European flights are over 90% full in March, about 15 percentage points higher than normal. Its non-stop Perth-London service is temporarily flying via Singapore for refuelling, allowing an extra 60 passengers per flight.
Griffith University tourism lecturer Zara Zarezadeh says travellers may choose safer transit hubs like Singapore, resulting in longer flying times or higher costs. Some may opt for refundable tickets or alternative destinations like southern Asia, Japan or New Zealand.
Tourism Australia says the country remains open to visitors, though it is monitoring travel restrictions. Qantas encourages early booking as lower fare options sell quickly.
