Cathay Pacific is offering business-class return flights from Sydney to London for over £20,000 in April, as passengers scramble for long-haul routes avoiding the Middle East. The tickets, listed at A$39,577, far exceed typical fares even for first class.
The surge in prices follows the US-Israel conflict with Iran, which has closed critical airspace and airport hubs in the Gulf. Major carriers like Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways have resumed limited operations, but hundreds of thousands of travellers have faced cancellations over 10 days of airspace closures.
Alternative routes via Singapore, Hong Kong, or Malaysia have limited capacity. Economy fares via the Gulf remain from about £1,100 return, but bookings are uncertain. Cathay no longer has economy seats on many April dates, with cheapest available from £1,800.
Aviation analyst Andrew Charlton noted he had not seen such high fares but said other Asian airlines are also raising prices on routes to Europe. He warned passengers booking via the Gulf to check travel insurance, as carriers like Emirates may offer cheap fares but with risk.
A Cathay spokesperson attributed the fare volatility to a short-term supply-demand imbalance, adding that the airline is operating extra flights to London and Zurich in March to meet demand.
