The ongoing war in the Middle East has cast a long shadow over travel plans, with Perth Airport feeling the impact. The conflict has grounded flights and left thousands of Australians stranded overseas.
On Tuesday, Perth Airport announced further cancellations, affecting routes to Dubai and Doha. This comes after missile strikes forced the closure of Qatari airspace, disrupting the operations of Emirates and Qatar Airways. With over 100,000 Australians still stranded, the situation is far from resolved.
But here's where it gets controversial... While some flights have resumed, the war's impact on travel infrastructure has left many passengers in limbo. Perth Airport has confirmed that six more flights were cancelled on Tuesday, bringing the total to 21 since the conflict began.
A spokesperson for the airport urged passengers to reach out to their airlines for more information. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong highlighted the unprecedented nature of the crisis, stating that the affected hubs are usually relied upon in such situations.
Senator Wong acknowledged that a small number of commercial flights had departed, but cautioned that an immediate resolution was unlikely. This has left many Australians stranded, with travel advice authority Smartraveller warning against voluntary cancellations.
And this is the part most people miss... Cancelling flights voluntarily could impact refund or rebooking rights, and travel insurance may not cover such cancellations. With call centers overwhelmed, Smartraveller advises waiting to be contacted by airlines if travel is not imminent within 48 hours.
For those traveling within the next 48 hours, the advice is clear: contact your airline or travel agent to confirm flight details.
Here's a full list of impacted Perth flights, a reminder of the scale of this travel disruption:
FULL LIST OF IMPACTED PERTH FLIGHTS:
28 February 2026:
- VA021 Perth - Doha
- QR901 Perth - Doha
- EK421 Perth - Dubai
1 March 2026:
- VA022 Doha - Perth
- VA021 Perth - Doha
- EK420 Dubai - Perth
- EK421 Perth - Dubai
- QR900 Doha - Perth
- QR901 Perth - Doha
2 March 2026:
- VA022 Doha - Perth
- VA021 Perth - Doha
- EK420 Dubai - Perth
- EK421 Perth - Dubai
- QR900 Doha - Perth
- QR901 Perth - Doha
3 March 2026:
- VA022 Doha - Perth
- VA021 Perth - Doha
- EK420 Dubai - Perth
- EK421 Perth - Dubai
- QR900 Doha - Perth
- QR901 Perth - Doha
The situation remains fluid, and the impact on travel plans is significant. With the war showing no signs of abating, the question remains: How long will this disruption last, and what does it mean for those hoping to return home?
