Air ticket prices between Asia and Europe have risen sharply after the war involving Iran disrupted air traffic across the Middle East.
Bloomberg reported that more than 46,000 flights were cancelled between 28 February and 11 March, while some routes have seen fares jump by up to 80 percent.
The disruption has forced airlines to avoid large parts of Middle Eastern airspace. Many flights now have to pass through a narrow corridor over Georgia and Azerbaijan or take longer routes south and west over Saudi Arabia, adding time and cost.
Nordic-linked carriers are also feeling the impact. SAS has warned of extensive cancellations ahead, while both SAS and Norwegian have introduced fuel surcharges as airlines try to manage rising operating costs. Finnair, long known for its fast Asia connections, has also been hit as routes to the region become more difficult.
The biggest pressure is on routes linking Europe and Asia. Bloomberg reported that a Singapore-London ticket now costs almost three times as much as before the war, while Gulf hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi are operating with heavily reduced schedules.
Related posts:
TUI brings stranded Danish tourists home from Thailand and Maldives
Spies flight brings 315 stranded Nordic travellers home from Thailand
Thai authorities offer hotel discounts to travelers affected by flight cancellations
Evacuation organiser alerts about airspace in the Middle East; “We have never seen a situation like this”
