Some prices rise 300% as Middle East conflict continues – here’s how to fly to Europe now

With the Middle East conflict still causing travel chaos, US reports say some air prices have soared up to 300%. Australians returning from Europe or trying to work out what to do about upcoming bookings are looking for secure ways to travel.

This problem certainly doesn’t seem like it’s going away any time soon, with Smart Traveller updating their travel warning to “Do Not Travel” for several Middle Eastern countries, including two key flight hubs for Aussies, the UAE and Qatar.

This means that stopovers in places like Dubai and Doha are completely out of the question for the time being, and its a tall order for anyone to predict exactly how long this will last for.

The warning for the UAE reads: “Due to the volatile security situation in the region and military strikes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), we’ve raised our level of advice for the UAE to do not travel. The UAE airspace may open or close at short notice, impacting flights at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports.

“Retaliatory strikes are occurring across the Middle East region following military strikes on Iran. Military conflict in the region may result in widespread movement restrictions, and other travel disruptions.”

The warning for Qatar says: “Due to the volatile security situation in the region and military strikes in Qatar, we’ve raised our level of advice for Qatar to do not travel. Retaliatory strikes are occurring across the Middle East region following military strikes on Iran. Qatar has closed its airspace, and Qatar Airways has suspended flights to and from Doha. Military conflict in the region may result in widespread movement restrictions and other travel disruptions.”

A ‘Do Not Travel’ warning from Smart Traveller not only means that the Australian government has deemed the destination extremely unsafe, but it also means most travel insurance policies will no longer offer coverage for those destinations.

A stop in Dubai or Doha is an common route for Australians to get to Europe – a whopping 51 per cent of travellers fly through major hubs in the Middle East to access different cities in Europe.

For those who have holidays or cruises in Europe in the next few weeks and months, the Middle East conflict will affect their plans.

It is now a good time to examine alternative plans with other routes between Australia and Europe.

For whichever situation, it’s a good time for Aussies to familiarise themselves with other flight routes between Australia and Europe.

Melissa Elf, Global COO, FCM Travel and Corporate Traveller said: “We understand the urgency for travellers to secure a safe return home, and there is some good news in that department.

“The majority of Europe to Australia flight connections operate via Asian hubs, not the Middle East, including Singapore, Hong Kong, and other major regional airports, with these routes continuing to operate normally.

“Passengers transferring via Asia – especially Singapore, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur – have become very popular in the last few days

“Travel Managers and passengers should note that seat availability on these alternative routes is limited and subject to rapid change. Securing a booking requires prompt action and flexibility.”

So whether you’re trying to get home or hoping to travel over the coming weeks or months, you’ll want to act swiftly to secure safe and fairly priced travel for you and the rest of your travel party.

Prices are going up

Airlines such as Qantas are already seeing steep price increases due to the conflict. Qantas is operating at about 90% capacity and is seeing a rise in bookings for Europe flight routes, as Aussies turn away from Middle Eastern airlines.

Analysts estimate that a spike in fuel prices could see an airline like Qantas paying an extra $14.8 million per day in fuelling costs, meaning that cruisers and other travellers should expect this to be reflected in the price of their flights. Some routes have risen as much as 150% in price over the past two weeks.

While prices will depend on when you travel and with each airline, some hugely inflated prices can already be spotted. There are fares as high as $5500 for a Sydney to Paris flight with Turkish airlines, a massive $11,000 for a one way economy Sydney to Frankfurt flight with Singapore airlines and a massive $40,000 for a business class flight from Sydney to London with Cathay Pacific.

Particularly popular routes include those from Perth that go directly to Europe, and other Europe flights that go past Singapore, rather than through the Middle East.

Other airlines are warning of increases as well, Air New Zealand and Virgin have said they are evaluating the effects of fuel rises, and Air India has already added surcharges to its flights to account for increased fuelling costs.

These price rises are arriving as Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, which about 20% of the worlds oil supply generally passes through.

Check below for some cheaper alternatives, but be beware that prices and availability are changing rapidly as airlines and travel companies navigate a very uncertain time.

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What are the other routes between Europe and Australia?

There are a number of other ways to get between Europe and Australia, such as with

• Singapore Airlines (via Singapore)
• Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong)
• Malaysia Airlines (via Kuala Lumpur)
• Thai Airways (via Bangkok)
• China Southern/China Eastern (via Chinese cities)
• EVA Air/China Airlines (via Taipei)
• Qantas (via Singapore on some routes).
• Qantas (direct to London via Perth)

So, which of these routes is best for you?

If we pick out random travel dates, for example, a return flight from Sydney to London, that leaves on April 14 and returns on May 12, you can see a basic summary of the flight options for Aussies.

Airline	Price range	Stopover location	Total transit time
Air China	$1250 – 1500	Beijing	Approx 30 hours there, 41 hours returning
China Eastern	$1600 – 1800	Shanghai	Approx 28 hours there, 27 hours returning
China Southern	$1600 – 1800	Guangzhou	Approx 40 hours there, 29 hours returning
Cathay Pacific	$2500 – 2700	Hong Kong	Approx 26 hours there, 23 hours returning
Thai Airways	$2500 – 2700	Bangkok	Approx 25 hours there, 23 hours returning

Sydney to Paris flight options for the same dates 

Airline	Price range	Stopover location	Total transit time
Malaysia Airlines	$1400 – 1600	Kuala Lumpur	Approx 25 hours there, 25 hours returning
China Eastern	$1400 – 1500	Shanghai	Approx 28 hours there, 28 hours returning
China Southern	$1800 – 2000	Guangzhou	Approx 29 hours there, 24 hours returning
Air India	$1900 – 2000	Delhi	Approx 30 hours there, 38 hours returning
Thai Airways	$2100 – 2300	Bangkok	Approx 25 hours there, 23 hours returning
Vietnam Airlines	$2100 – 2200	Ho Chi Minh City	Approx 29 hours there, approx 37 hours returning
Korean Air	$2100 – 2200	Seoul	Approx 40 hours there, 26 hours returning
Finnair	$2200 – 2400	Seoul + Helsinki (on the way) Helsinki + Singapore (returning)	Approx 30 hours there, 26 hours returning
Cathay Pacific	$2300 – 2500	Brisbane + Hong Kong (on the way) Hong Kong (returning)	Approx 32 hours there, 24 hours returning
Air France	$2400 – 2600	Los Angeles (on the way) Singapore (returning)	Approx 33 hours there, 22 hours returning

Other alternative routes

There are of course other alternative routes, that might not always compete on time and price with the options above, but could potentially provide you with a more familiar or comfortable experience in arriving to your destination.

For example, you can travel through Tokyo with Japan Airlines, who then operates flights to major Europe destinations such as London, Paris, Helsinki, Frankfurt and more.

You can also travel through the USA or Canada, by flying from Australia to cities like Los Angeles or Vancouver, and then continuing to Europe from there.

Then, as mentioned, you can actually fly to direct to Europe if you leave from Perth, with Qantas offering non-stop services to London, Rome and Paris. This means another alternative for Aussies is getting to Perth first, then heading over to Europe from there.

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So, who should you fly with?

• Looking for pure value? If price is your main consideration, it’s hard to beat the Chinese carriers like China Southern and China Eastern. Malaysian Airways is also another cheap option into Western European cities. 
• Looking for a highly rated airline? Cathay Pacific ranks at #2 overall on AirlineRatings.com list of top ranked full-service airlines for 2026.
• Looking to reduce transit time? This will depend on your exact route, but Thai Airways is a good reliable option that generally won’t have more than 24 hours of transit in either direction. 

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Quick tips 

• Check on aggregate sites such as Google Flights or Skyscanner for the prices for your exact dates, however, it’s best to book through the airline or a travel agent, not directly through an aggregate website. 
• Book as soon as possible! The longer the conflict continues, the more popular these alternative flight routes will become, meaning higher prices and less availability. 
• If you’re unsure about an airline, check websites like Airline Ratings or AirHelp for an approximate idea. 
• Expect a bit less comfort than usual. The truth is most of these airlines offer slightly less comfort and service quality than lines like Qantas or Etihad. It’s also generally a longer transit time. While they may not provide the comfort of your preferred carrier, these airlines can still offer you a safe and secure way to arrive at your destination. 

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The flexible ticket ‘insurance’ strategy

Cruise agent and expert Sharon Summerhayes, owner of Deluxe Travel and Cruise, stresses the importance of a flexible ticket in such uncertain times

Summerhayes spells out that if you currently have travel booked through the Middle East over the coming months, you should purchase a flexible ticket through Asia now. Then if your Middle East flight is okay to board, you can cancel your ticketing through Asia and board the flight through the Middle East, or if it isn’t, you can take this ‘insurance’ flight through Asia.

If the Middle East fly is okay to board, then it may cost you a couple of hundred in cancellation fees, but you won’t have run the risk of missing your cruise or travel entirely.

“I would recommend another flexible ticket purchase as insurance, if possible.  One with an airline transiting Asia like Singapore Airlines, Thai, JAL etc that has a low cancellation penalty.  Even if it costs you a couple of hundred in cancellation fees, you have the insurance that should you not be able to take your originally booked flight, you’ll still have the option with your ‘insurance’ ticket.

“Ensure that you’re aware of the cancellation time-frame as most tickets must be cancelled at least 24-48 hours prior to departure for the most refund.  Middle Eastern airlines are offering refunds for immediately affected passengers, but you won’t know if your booked flights are affected until close to your departure date.”

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