Editor’s note: This is an evolving story; this post will be updated as soon as further information becomes available.
In light of the ongoing strafing of Iran which has gone on since Saturday, 28th February, a number of airlines and hospitality providers have begun taking relevant measures to ensure the safety of their customers.
The Philippines, in particular, has ramped up cancellations and flight diversions in the Middle East in light of the large overseas Filipino worker population, as well as those currently on Roman Catholic or Muslim pilgrimages.
As of press time, flag-carrier Philippine Airlines announced that it is currently monitoring the security situation in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing operational restrictions that have affected both regional airspace and airports.
As of yesterday, 1st March, the following flights have been cancelled and will remain so until further notice:
- PR658 / PR659 – Manila – Dubai – Manila
- PR654 / PR655 – Manila – Riyadh – Manila
Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific, on the other hand, released a fresh statement as of 9:00am (SGT) announcing the cancellation of its Manila-Dubai-Manila flights (5J14 and 5J15) which were scheduled for tomorrow, 3rd March.
Per the statement:
The safety and well-being of our passengers, crew, and ground team remain our highest priority. We continue to closely monitor developments and assess flight operations in the region.
Cebu Pacific also announced a roster of rebooking and travel fund conversion options for passengers opting to postpone their flights to and from the following destinations on specific dates:
- Dubai (1st – 8th March)
- Riyadh (1st – 9th March)
Affected passengers may avail themselves of these options through the Manage Booking portal of the official Cebu Pacific website up to two hours before their scheduled time of departure.
Passengers are also encouraged to check their flight status at cebupacificair.com/flight-status and ensure their contact details are updated to receive timely notifications, and to monitor updates through the airline’s official social media accounts.
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia
Per a report from Channel News Asia, Malaysia Airlines announced that it has cancelled all flights to and from Doha, Qatar, as well as Saudi Arabian destinations Jeddah and Madinah till Wednesday, 4th March, or until such time that regional airspace is declared safe.
Prior to the joint US-Israel onslaught, Malaysia Airlines needed to divert flights from Kuala Lumpur to the Middle East were diverted on Friday, 27th February, following an urgent advisory regarding increased risks in Middle Eastern airspace.
Doha-bound MH160 returned to Kuala Lumpur, while Jeddah-bound MH156 was diverted to Chennai, but safely returned later to Kuala Lumpur.
Indonesian flag-carrier Garuda Indonesia has likewise suspended operations to and from Doha; the airline is coordinating with the relevant regional authorities whilst monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines and its low-cost carrier Scoot announced that several flights into and out of the Middle East have been suspended as of Saturday, 28th February.
For Singapore Airlines, its Dubai route is affected by the ongoing situation, leading to the cancellation of SQ494 and SQ495.
For Scoot, its routes to and from Jeddah, TR596 and TR597, remain cancelled until further notice.
Southeast Asian low-cost carrier AirAsia announced yesterday, 1st March, that flights operating to and from Middle Eastern destinations may experience disruptions, including rerouting, delays, or schedule adjustments.
Thai AirAsia, in particular, cancelled its regular services to and from Riyadh as of yesterday.
Interestingly, Thai Airways has not cancelled any of its flights, but its European routes are being diverted to safer flight paths as of yesterday.
China and Taiwan see cancellations across the board
Earlier today, The Macao News reported that several major airlines operating in China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA) announced special ticketing arrangements for their Middle Eastern routes, offering both refunds and the rescheduling of flights for those whose travel plans are affected by the conflict.
Among those offering flexible ticket options are Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific and Guangzhou’s China Southern Airlines.
The latter has advised passengers who purchased tickets before 8pm local time on 28th February for flights heading to or linked to Dubai, Riyadh, Tehran and Doha- between 28th February and 15th March that they are eligible for free rescheduling or a full refund.
The same applies to affected Cathay Pacific passengers; the carrier’s flights to Riyadh are suspended until tomorrow, 3rd March, while its Dubai route will remain suspended until Saturday, 7th March.
Meanwhile, Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei, Taiwan announced the cancellation of at least six flights heading to the Middle East, serviced by Etihad and Emirates.
Emirates has advised passengers with planned departures within 72 hours to rebook their tickets within ten days or apply for refunds.
Etihad, on the other hand, announced that its Middle Eastern routes to and from the Taiwanese capital will remain suspended until further notice.
