Due to airspace closures, there are many flight disruptions, including cancellations and reschedules, throughout the Middle East. Many flight updates will continue to be released throughout the day, so make sure to keep an eye out in case your flight has been affected.
If your flight is affected, you can find out what actions to take below.
Brandon offers a brief comment to 7NEWS at 16:45.
Airline rebooking and refund policies
The list below is not exhaustive, however, it covers the main scenarios for Australian travellers. For further information, travellers are advised to visit the airline’s website or contact customer support.
Updated as of 17 March 2026, but may change as the situation in the Middle East develops.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways have limited flights departing to and from Doha until 17 Mar. Passengers have been advised to monitor the latest information via qatarairways.com or through the mobile app.
- Current policy as of 17 Mar 2026: Flights departing 28 Feb to 28 Mar can be refunded in full or changed to a future travel date within 10 days from the travel date.
Emirates
With a few airspaces opening, Emirates have commenced a limited number of flights, with a reduced flight schedule. Customers are advised to continue checking their light status for latest updates.
- Current policy as of 17 Mar 2026: Flights departing from 28 Feb to 31 Mar can be refunded in full or changed to a future travel date up on or before 30 April.
Etihad
Etihad Airways operations will schedule a limited number of flights between Abu Dhabi and key destinations from 6 Mar to 19 Mar. Specific travellers can rebook their flight free of charge or request a refund.
- Current policy as of 17 Mar 2026: Flights departing up to 21 Mar can rebook or request a refund in full on flights up to 31 Mar.
Flights through the UAE booked via Qantas
Qantas has introduced extra flexibility for flights through the UAE booked via their website, including codeshare commercial bookings and reward flights. Perth to London flights may now operate via a fuel stop in Singapore, with no other impacts to flights.
- Current policy as of 17 Mar 2026: Flights booked before 1 Mar and departing from 1 Mar to 15 Mar can be refunded in full, put in flight credit (cash fares only) or rescheduled within 10 days from the original departure dates without fees.
Flights through the UAE booked via Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia flights operated by Qatar Airways have been cancelled until further notice. Virgin is offering free flight changes, travel credits or refunds for guests who no longer wish to travel.
- Current policy as of 17 Mar 2026: Flights scheduled until 19 Mar to and from Doha, have been cancelled. Other affected flights up to 22 Mar can be refunded, put in credit or rescheduled at no extra cost.
Oman Air
Several of Oman Air flights have been suspended or delayed due to the multiple airspace closures. Flights will be notified directly, however travellers are asked to check your flight for any updates.
- Current Policy as of 17 Mar 2026: Flights to Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Copenhagen, Khasab, and Baghdad have all been cancelled until 31 Mar. Extra flights have been added to accommodate guests, and all other flights are operating as normal.
Alternative flight routes to the Middle East
We advise against cancelling your flights prematurely until a specific waiver is offered for your travel dates.
If you do need to travel in the next few weeks to a destination outside the UAE (e.g. Europe), call or message the airline on official channels to see if they can reaccommodate you on a different partner carrier that is flying. If you booked through a travel agent or a different ticketing airline, call them instead.
Where possible, try to push to be rebooked via an Asian hub if you have a cash fare. This includes Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Unfortunately, rebooking a reward flight booked with points may be difficult due to low availability on alternative routings. If your travel is urgent, consider refunding your reward booking in full and purchasing a cash fare on an alternative carrier.
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