Qantas has paused its direct Perth-London flights due to concerns about potential risks over Iranian airspace. Instead of the usual non-stop route, Qantas will now have a stopover in Singapore.
The change comes as several Middle Eastern countries closed their airspace after Iran launched missiles at Israel, leading to concerns about the safety of flights over the region.
The non-stop Perth to London flights, which usually take around 17 and a half hours, are only possible when using a specific route over Iranian airspace.
“We’re temporarily adjusting the flight paths for our flights between Perth and London due to the situation in parts of the Middle East,” a Qantas spokesperson said, confirming the move.
“We’ll reach out to customers directly if there’s any change to their booking.”
Qantas is among several carriers to reroute their flights to avoid the area, which will lead to longer flight times and increased fuel costs.
However, the situation remains dynamic, with airlines closely monitoring developments in the region and making adjustments to their flight paths as needed to ensure passenger safety.
Who’s reacted?
Among the carriers to reroute are Lufthansa Group airlines (including Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines and Austrian Airlines) and Singapore Airlines.
Dutch carrier KLM will also avoid flying over Iran and Israel as a precaution but will continue flights to Tel Aviv, the Netherlands press agency ANP reported.
According to the Bangkok Post, Thai Airways International (THAI) is also rerouting its Europe flights to avoid the Middle East following Iran’s attacks, while Malaysia Airlines will be rerouting flights between Kuala Lumpur and London to detour Iranian airspace, the Malay Mail reported.
Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific is watching the situation in the Middle East closely, but operations remain normal, a spokesman told Bloomberg.
The Iranian development means airlines are running out of options for routes between Asia and Europe because of closed airspace in the Middle East and also around Ukraine.
New travel advice
In the wake of the attacks on Israel, the Australian Government has updated its travel advice for the country.
“There’s an increased threat of military and terrorist attacks against Israel and Israeli interests across the region,” the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said on the Smartraveller website.
“The security situation could deteriorate quickly, with little or no notice. This may also result in airspace closures, flight cancellations and flight diversions, and other travel disruptions.
“Airports may pause operations due to heightened security concerns.”