The late afternoon Emirates flight from London Heathrow to Dubai has an advertised connection to Bangkok of just one hour. Normally, 60 minutes is sufficient for extricating passengers and their checked baggage from the world’s biggest passenger plane, the A380, and enabling them to board another SuperJumbo at a different gate at the airport. However, the remarkable choreography that allows millions of passengers to connect every day at Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, and many other hubs is under severe strain due to the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.
With Russian and Ukrainian skies closed to Western aircraft, the options for flying from Europe to Asia seem to be narrowing by the day. Airlines flying from Europe to the Gulf recently experienced severe disruptions, with Emirates and Qatar Airways—the two biggest Middle Eastern carriers—diverting dozens of flights. The situation has led to many planes arriving at their destinations in Dubai and Doha several hours late, throwing the carefully planned deployment of aircraft and crew into disarray.
Closed skies over Iraq and Iran have forced airlines to adopt unusual routes, complicating the already challenging situation. For example, an Air France jet from Paris to Mumbai turned around over northern Iraq and flew back to Charles de Gaulle airport. British Airways also faced disruptions, with a London Heathrow to Dubai flight diverting to Larnaca in Cyprus to refuel.
As we explore the implications of these disruptions, we will address key questions surrounding normal flight routes, what has changed due to recent conflicts, and what passengers can expect if they miss their connections.
Normal Flight Routes from Europe to the Gulf and South Asia
Typically, a plane will route over Germany, Austria, and the Balkans to Turkey, flying the length of the country and turning southeast after passing Syria. Depending on the airline and its policies, the usual route is then over Iraq or Iran to the Gulf. However, the ongoing geopolitical tensions have altered these established paths significantly.
Changes in Flight Routing Due to Geopolitical Tensions
Since the airspace was closed due to the Iranian missile attack, airlines have been forced to take much longer routings. For instance, the early morning Qatar Airways flight QR12 from London Heathrow to Doha now takes a route southeast to Athens, over the eastern Mediterranean to Egypt, and over the Sinai Peninsula to the Red Sea, turning east to fly over the middle of Saudi Arabia. This extra distance of about 500 miles adds an hour to the flight time, leading to significant delays.
What Happens If You Miss a Connection?
The scale of the challenge for travelers is immense. For example, on Thursday morning, none of the first 20 arrivals from Western Europe to Doha airport was on time, with delays reaching up to three hours. If you’re on a journey from the UK, the airline becomes legally liable for providing meals (and accommodations if necessary) until it gets you to your destination. However, due to the current conflict being classified as an "extraordinary circumstance," no compensation is payable.
Long Waits at Hubs
As a result of all the missed connections and cancellations, passengers may find themselves waiting at the hubs for several days for onward flights. While UK-originating travelers can assert their entitlement to be flown to their final destination as soon as possible, the same rules do not apply to travelers on non-British or European airlines like Emirates or Qatar Airways when flying from outside the UK/EU.
Disruption for Non-Connecting Passengers
Yes, every airline operating in the region is coping with longer flight times, which reverberate throughout the system. For example, the Singapore Airlines A380 SuperJumbo from Singapore to London Heathrow must navigate a complicated course over India, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan, taking much longer than the ideal flight plan. British Airways has also canceled its flights from London Heathrow to Mumbai, which typically flies over Iraq, on specific dates due to these disruptions.
In summary, the current situation has created a ripple effect across international air travel, affecting not only those connecting through hubs but also direct flights. As airlines adapt to these challenges, passengers must remain informed and flexible regarding their travel plans.
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