Asian travelers seek other options as Middle East plans stay grounded

Amid the ongoing Iran war, the roar of the Middle East’s commercial tourism has been replaced by the steady hum of repatriation flights, leaving vacationers to navigate the landscape of rising airfares and safety concerns. It’s yet another airspace closure that airlines have had to deal with since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

It’s a stark contrast to a prediction from the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Economy and Tourism that the country would amass a market volume of almost $950 billion by 2026. Dubai, in particular, finds its position as the crown jewel of Middle East’s tourism faltering as its airports have been forced to shut temporarily during the conflict.

Canceled flights to and from the Middle East region have exceeded 46,000 since the U.S.-Israel attacks on Feb. 28, aviation data firm Cirium told CNBC previously. And at the Aviation Festival in Singapore in March, India’s SpiceJet said the Middle East conflict has significantly affected its operations due to heavy traffic between India and the region.

But it’s not just airlines that have been cancelling flights. Travelers from Asia told CNBC they have been canceling their travel plans to the Middle East and considering holidays within their own region instead.

Her plans were quickly cut short when she began looking for flight tickets, as prices were “just so high,” that she couldn’t justify the cost, she told CNBC in an interview — a surge in fuel prices caused by the fallout from the Iran war has seen airfares rise. Bui found that flight tickets, including layovers, from Vietnam to the Middle East, had reached about $1,500 to $2,000 in March.

Many travelers cited non-refundable fare change fees as a top cancellation trigger, Jay Ellenby, president of Safe Harbors travel group, said in an email. There was a noticeable 20-30% uptick in cancellations for Middle East routes from the travel agency’s Asian clients, with many quoting $450 non-refundable fare change fees on international trips being a top cancellation trigger.

Instead, these travelers were pivoting to Southeast Asian hubs like Singapore or intra-Asian routes, Ellenby added.

Booking platforms have been collating user data to create more effective suggestions for travelers stuck in transit or in ticket planning limbo.

Instead of needing to have multiple booking tabs open, travel websites have been looking to help shoppers find quick solutions, according to Maurizio Garavello,…