Passenger volumes through China have surged 86 per cent in a matter of days, according to new data from Flight Centre Travel Group’s corporate arms, as companies reroute around disrupted Middle East corridors.
The figures, released by FCM Travel and Corporate Traveller, show a sharp and immediate pivot by corporate travellers to Asian hub airports as regional airspace closures continue to ground flights through the Middle East.
Overall passenger volumes through key Asian hubs climbed 17 per cent in the days following the disruptions, with China leading the charge at 86 per cent growth and Malaysia up 13 per cent.
The data compares the period from Monday 2 March to Thursday 5 March 2026 against the previous week (Monday 23 February to Thursday 26 February). The acceleration comes as eight Middle Eastern nations closed their airspace following military strikes across the region, grounding major Gulf carriers and stranding more than 115,000 Australians.
How are corporates responding to the disruption?
According to FCM Travel and Corporate Traveller, companies are channelling business traffic through what the divisions describe as “resilient flight corridors” rather than cancelling trips outright.
The shift, they say, is aimed at protecting supply chains, maintaining commercial connections and keeping core economic activity moving despite the geopolitical upheaval.
Melissa Elf, Global COO of FCM Travel and Corporate Traveller, said the response reflects what the corporate travel sector has long been known for. “Business travel is known for its resilience and flexibility, with companies looking at alternative routes that are safe to travel through, rather than cancelling,” Elf said.
“Global economies don’t stop, and our latest data show that corporates continue to find ways through alternative routes to get deals done.”
Which routes are still operating for Europe-Australia connections?
Elf noted that the majority of flight connections between Europe and Australia already operate via Asian hubs rather than the Middle East.
“The majority of Europe to Australia flight connections operate via Asian hubs, not the Middle East, including China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other major regional airports, with these routes continuing to operate normally,” she said.
That aligns with what Australian travel advisors told Karryon earlier this week, with several predicting a shift towards Asian carriers as the crisis unfolds.
Airlines such as China Southern, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific continue to connect Australian cities to Europe and beyond through their respective hubs, while carriers reliant on Gulf hubs remain grounded or heavily disrupted.
What does this mean for seat availability?
The surge in demand through Asian corridors is creating its own pressure. Elf warned that inventory on alternative routes is tightening rapidly and urged travel managers to act quickly.
“Travel Managers and passengers should note that seat availability on these alternative routes is limited and subject to rapid change. Securing a booking is essential,” she said.
Corporate travel managers face shifting inventory, complex re-bookings and the need for rapid policy decisions across multiple markets. FCM says its role as a travel management company gives it access to diverse inventory systems and the ability to manage ticketing complexities that individual travellers or companies would struggle with on their own.
Why does business travel continuity matter right now?
The broader context is significant. With Gulf carriers including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad all suspending or heavily curtailing operations, the world’s busiest long-haul corridors between Europe and Asia-Pacific have been severely disrupted.
According to Flight Centre’s data, the corporate response has been to adapt rather than retreat, maintaining the flow of business travel that underpins trade relationships, deal-making and supply chain management.
“As a travel management company, we continue to assist as we can access different inventory systems, manage re-bookings, and handle ticketing complexities, significantly easing the burden on travellers and their companies,” Elf said.
KARRYON UNPACKS: For travel advisors managing corporate accounts, these figures reinforce the value of proactive rebooking through Asian hub carriers while Gulf airspace remains closed. Seat availability on China, Singapore and Hong Kong corridors is tightening fast.
