‘Get out’: Flights cancelled, urgent travel warning for Australians

Multiple flights have been cancelled in the Middle East as an urgent travel warning is issued to Australians travelling to the region amid the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran.

Smartraveller issued a “do not travel” warning for some Middle Eastern countries on Saturday, with Home Affairs minister Tony Burke urging those in Lebanon and Israel to return home as soon as possible.

Flights cancelled amid Iran conflict

A Virgin Australia spokesman confirmed several flights operated by Qatar Airways had been cancelled or turned back to Australia.

On Saturday, four Virgin Australia flights were turned around and flew back to Australia after the Qatari airspace was closed.

Seven flights were cancelled on Sunday, and several other flights have been cancelled for Monday.

Passengers have been offered free booking changes or refunds if they do not wish to travel.

“The safety of our guests and crew is always our top priority,” they told NewsWire.

“Due to the evolving situation in the Middle East, a number of Virgin Australia services operated by Qatar Airways have been cancelled.

“Guests scheduled to travel on Virgin Australia services between Australia and Doha in the coming days are advised to closely monitor their flight information and visit the Smartraveller website for the latest travel advice.”

A Qantas spokesman said the airline did not operate flights to Middle Eastern airports, but said they were continuing to monitor the situation.

The airline said a number of alternative flight paths for routes to Europe would be used as the situation develops.

Emirates has temporarily suspended all operations to and from Dubai, and are offering travellers who are flying within the next 72 hours a refund or the chance to re-book their flights up to 10 days from the original travel date.

“We are actively monitoring the situation and engaging with relevant authorities,” a spokesman said.

“We apologise to customers affected by disruptions for any inconvenience caused.”

‘Get out’: Home Affairs minister’s warning to travellers

Australians in Lebanon, Israel or Qatar have been urged to get out of the region immediately by Home Affairs minister Tony Burke.

“If you are already there, if it is safe to leave, leave. Get out. Don’t delay,” he warned on Sunday.

“As long as there are commercial flights available, you should be getting on them. We’ve got a lot of people in Lebanon and Israel … some in Qatar. But people should take that travel advice seriously, we don’t make these recommendations lightly,” he said on Seven’s Weekend Sunrise.

Foreign Affairs minister Penny Wong feared things could be “difficult”.

She said: “We … call on Iran to cease its indiscriminate countries in the region, many which not party to this conflict. We have seen attacks in the region including on the UAE, and also Tel Aviv.

“We call on Iran to cease these attacks.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs is urgently seeking to confirm whether any Australians have been affected. We have activated our crisis to provide consular support to Australians in the region.

“I would say to Australians: this is a difficult period. This will be difficult. We will do our best to give you the information we are able to get to you.”

Smartraveller, the travel advisory website run by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), warned Australian travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution due to the threat of terrorism and missile and drone attacks” in certain areas of the Middle East.

“Retaliatory strikes are occurring in several countries across the Middle East region, following military strikes on Iran. There is a risk of further reprisal attacks and escalation across the region,” Smartraveller wrote in updates in the early hours of Sunday.

The Australian government has raised travel warning levels in Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, all of Palestine including Jerusalem, Lebanon, Bahrain and Iraq to ‘do not travel’ due to the current “volatile security situation”.

“Due to the volatile security situation in the region and military strikes we’ve raised our level of advice for the UAE to do not travel,” Smartraveller said.

Dubbed Operation ‘Epic Fury’, the United States and Israel kicked off a high stakes military attack on Iran on Saturday night, targeting more than 500 key military bases across the region after months of planning between the allies.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s compound was also targeted in the joint strikes.

Iran responded by launching retaliatory air strikes on US bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait which intercepted missile fire.

Closures in airspaces and disruptions to flights have already occurred across the region, which could impact flights and cause delays and cancellations to and from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Palestine, Armenia, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria and Oman.

“If you travel to or through the Middle East, you may be unable to leave if conflict escalates.” Smartraveller said in an alert.