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Travel Advisory: Flight Disruptions in the Middle East

Last updated: 1 Apr 2026 | 08:03 SAST

Travelstart is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East, which has resulted in airspace closures and operational changes across parts of the region.

As a result, some flights operating to, from, or transiting through the Middle East may be cancelled, delayed, or rerouted. These adjustments are being made by airlines in response to airspace restrictions and safety considerations.

If You Have Upcoming Travel

If your booking includes travel to or via the Middle East, we recommend that you:

  • Check your flight status directly on your airline’s website for the latest updates
  • Monitor your email regularly for any communication regarding changes to your booking
  • Do not proceed to the airport without confirming your flight status, as last-minute schedule changes may occur

Airlines are actively reviewing schedules and updating their policies in line with the situation.

  • Following the reopening of regional airspace, Emirates is pleased to progressively restore service across its network, with a planned schedule of up to 150 daily roundtrip passenger flights for the period 29th March to 30th April 2026.
  • Our latest flight schedules, including newly added services, are available for your reference by clicking on latest flight schedules.
  • We are also pleased to share our planned South Africa operation during this period, which includes three daily flights to Johannesburg, including the A380 on EK763/EK764, a daily service to Cape Town, and three weekly flights to Durban.
    • EK 775 Dubai-Durban operates on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
    • EK 776 Durban-Dubai operates on Monday, Thursday, Saturday
  • As the situation continues to stabilise, Emirates remains committed to steadily strengthening its operation and adding further frequencies to South Africa and across the wider network where possible.
  • This planned schedule remains subject to slot approvals at Dubai, which continue to be allocated in line with the daily movement limits set by the UAE GCAA.
  • Customers are advised to check flight status review the latest operational updates on emirates.com.
  • Emirates' Disruption Handling Policy allows for:
    1. Free re-booking and re-routing options for passengers booked to travel between 28th February until and including 30th April 2026 who may rebook their travel anytime until 15th June 2026 to destinations within the same region and in any booking class within the same cabin class - this is ONLY if flights are affected ie cancelled.
    2. If the new travel date is beyond 15th June 2026: Rebooking is permitted only in the original booking class, within the ticket validity. Change penalties will apply.
    3. A separate handling process applies to customers booked on cancelled flights between 16th April 2026 and 30th April 2026.
    4. Refunds are applicable on unused flight coupons and cancellation charges are waived. This applies to Tickets with original travel between 28 Feb-30 April 2026.
    5. If your travel is on or after 16 April 2026 cancellation penalties will apply as per fare rules. This applies only if flights are affected, for example, if they are cancelled.
    6. Re-protection on other airilnes (OAL) for rerouting/rebooking is for affected itineraries (flights cancelled, diverted or delayed) only within Operational Window of 72 hours to departure. Reprotection on OAL should be used as the last resort and should be offered exhausting all other re-accommodation options.
    7. Options for passengers booked on flights CANCELLED within 16 April 2026 to 30 April 2026 period:
      • Rebooking/Rerouting in the same region in any booking class in the same cabin within (+/-) 10 days of original travel date as per EK Planned Schedule Change.
      • Rebooking/Rerouting in the same region in same booking class in the same cabin beyond (+/-) 10 days of original travel date and within ticket validity as per EK Planned Schedule Change.
      • Refund Only for customers booked on CANCELLED FLIGHTS between 16APR26 to 30APR26 as per EK Planned Schedule Change.
      • Reprotection on other airlines should not be offered for these dates.
    8. Travelstart has sent you an email with your options which you need to either ACCEPT or DECLINE
    9. If you have purchased paid seats or excess baggage on Emirates' website and need to apply for a refund please use this link.
  • If you would like to proceed with the cancellation and refund request click here and select category: Cancellation and Refund - Booking cancellation. Please note that refund processing may take approximately 6–12 weeks
  • To change your flight for another time, click here and select category: Schedule Change made by airline - Decline schedule change. Please include your preferred travel date range in the comments section, and we will assist in finding the best available option.
  • Due to the high number of affected travellers, our support teams are currently experiencing very high contact volumes, please allow 2-3 days for our team to get back to you.
  • Should your scheduled flight be within the next 48hrs, we suggest contacting us via WhatsApp on +27 71 482 7158.
  • Emirates continues to monitor the situation closely. Further updates will be published on Click here and Emirates’ official social media channels.
  • Etihad Airways is currently operating a limited commercial flight schedule between Abu Dhabi and several key destinations.
  • The most up-to-date information and the current flight schedule is available at etihad.com/flightstatus.
  • All other scheduled commercial services to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended. Additional destinations will be added and communicated as conditions permit.
  • Passengers and members of the public should not travel to the airport unless they have been contacted directly by Etihad or hold a confirmed booking on one of these new flights.
  • Unfortunatley Joburg - Abu Dhabi is still excluded from the reduced network schedule for the month of April 2026
  • Etihad's Disruption Policy allows for:
    • Etihad Airways offers the following options for guests impacted by the Middle East situation. This applies to commercial EY tickets (607) issued on/before 28-Feb-2026.
    • Conditions:
      • Flights to/from All Network
      • Tickets issued on/before 28-Feb-2026
      • Original travel dates: 28-Feb-2026 to 15-Apr-26 (both dates inclusive)
    • One of the below options apply
      1. Rebooking: may rebook free of charge onto Etihad-operated flights on or before 15 May 2026. Ticket must be reissued on or before 15 April 2026.
        • For all other scenarios, fare rules apply
      2. Refunds: Passengers on all Etihad flights until 15 April 2026 may request a refund through Travelstart. For travel on/after 16 Apr-26: Fare rules apply
    • Travelstart has sent you an email with your options which you must either ACCEPT or DECLINE
  • For tickets booked and purchased on or after 06 March 2026 for travel on or before 31 March 2027, the first rebooking will be free of charge.
  • Etihad continues to work in close coordination with the relevant authorities and will resume normal operations as soon as conditions permit.
  • The Qatari Civil Aviation Authority has approved Hamad International Airport's return to 24-hour operation.
  • This relaxation of restrictions will see the flight schedule to/from Doha increase gradually.
  • Qatar Airways has published its latest revised schedule, reflecting the gradual increase in flights to, and from, Doha to more than 120 destinations across the airline’s global network by mid-May 2026.
  • Below are the planned weekly departures from South Africa:
    Dates JNB CPT DUR
    1–7 April x7 x4 x4
    8–15 April x11 x4 x4
    16 April - 15 June x14 x7 x4
  • Network rebuild in 5 phases:
    1. 1-7 April: 77 destinations
    2. 8-15 April: 93 destinations
    3. 16-30 April: 104 destinations
    4. 1-15 May: 105 destinations
    5. 16 May - 15 June: 123 destinations
  • All flights to and from Doha continue to operate through dedicated flight corridors. These routes are established in close coordination with the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority.
  • For details on flights departing to and from Doha until 15 June 2026 visit this page on Qatar's website
  • You are kindly asked not to arrive at your departure airport unless you hold a valid, confirmed ticket for travel.
  • Please note: Flight schedules are subject to change or cancellation due to operational, regulatory, safety, or other circumstances beyond Qatar Airways' control.
  • In light of the recent developments we would like to share an update on the extended measures in place to provide additional flexibility and support for customers who are impacted by flight cancellations or who wish to change their travel plans on flights which are still scheduled to operate.
  • The following extended guidelines apply during this period for Tickets issued by 30 April 2026 with an original travel date between 28 Feb and 15 June 2026:
    1. Tickets issued by 30 April 2026 with an original travel date between 28 Feb and 15 June 2026
    2. Complimentary Date Changes to the new travel date is now permitted for travel up to 31 October 2026 when rebooking on Qatar operated flights rebook for same departure and arrival points (origin and destination) , must be booked in the same booking class as your original ticket and maintaining the same season
    3. Refunds on unused flight coupons may be processed, and cancellation charges will be waived upon airline approval.
    4. Travelstart has sent you an email with your options which you need to either ACCEPT or DECLINE
  • If you would like to proceed with the cancellation and refund request click here and select category: Cancellation and Refund - Booking cancellation. Please note that refund processing may take approximately 6–12 weeks
  • To change your flight for another time, click here and select category: Schedule Change made by airline - Decline schedule change. Please include your preferred travel date range in the comments section, and we will assist in finding the best available option.
  • Due to the high number of affected travellers, our support teams are currently experiencing very high contact volumes, please allow 2-3 days for our team to get back to you.
  • Should your scheduled flight be within the next 48hrs, we suggest contacting us via WhatsApp on +27 71 482 7158.
  • Minimum Connecting Time (MCT) for transiting customers in Doha for travel up to 28 March 2026 is 75 minutes
  • Complimentary Stopover for the Purpose of Connection (STPC) for travel up to 15 June 2026, the following applies:
    • If clients have a transit time of 8 to 24 hours they are eligible for a complimentary STPC.
    • For travel more than 72 hours away, STPC requests for your clients should be submitted through Travelstart.
    • For travel within the next 72 hours, your clients can approach the STPC Desk at Transfer upon arrival in Doha to receive their complimentary accommodation.
    • For travel beyond 15 June 2026, standard STPC eligibility conditions apply.
  • Temporary suspension of ancillary services:
    • Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended the sale of most ancillary products including paid seat selection, Wi-Fi, lounge access, additional baggage, and Al Maha Meet and Assist services.
    • This measure applies to all flights scheduled until 31 March 2026.
    • Free seating remains available on certain fares.
    • All ancillary products will again be available for purchase on flights scheduled from 01 April 2026 onwards.
    • This measure is intended to mitigate inconvenience in the event of disrupted travel plans and to reduce refund requests.

Frequently Asked Questions

The fastest way to check is directly on the airline’s website or mobile app using your airline booking reference. Airlines provide the most up-to-date operational information and will reflect any cancellations, delays or rerouting there first.

We recommend that you check your flight status before going to the airport. If your flight is confirmed as operating, you may proceed as planned. If the status is unclear or showing disruption, please monitor the airline’s updates before travelling to the airport.

Some airlines have introduced special disruption policies which may allow affected passengers to change travel dates or request refunds. Eligibility depends on the airline and the fare rules of your ticket. If your booking qualifies, our support team will assist you after you submit a request through our contact form.

If your departure is within the next 48 hours and your flight has been disrupted, please contact our support team directly so we can prioritise urgent travel assistance.

Refunds are processed by the airline once they approve the request. This process can take approximately 6–12 weeks depending on the airline and payment method. Once we receive the refund from the airline, it will be returned to your original form of payment.

Due to the high number of affected travellers, response times may currently be longer than usual. Our team is prioritising customers who are currently travelling or departing soon. If you have already been in contact with us and we have confirmed that we will cancel, rebook, or process a refund for your booking, your request has been added to our processing queue.

Bookings in this queue are handled based on departure date, with the most urgent travel prioritised first. If you do not receive a confirmation email, refund quote, or further update immediately, it means that your request is still in the queue and awaiting processing. Please rest assured that your case has been registered and will be handled as soon as it reaches the appropriate priority.

Refunds and Rebooking

If your flight is cancelled or significantly changed, refund or rebooking options will depend on the airline’s policy and the fare rules of your ticket.

As Travelstart, we process changes and refunds in accordance with the airline’s authorisation. Our team is available to review your booking and guide you through the available options.

Need Assistance?

If your departure is within the next 24 hours and you have not received communication regarding your flight, please contact our Customer Support team:

South Africa

📞 +27 21 468 4300
💬 Whatsapp +27 71 482 7158.
🌍 https://www.travelstart.co.za/contact-us

Disclaimer:

The information provided above is based on airline communications and publicly available updates at the time of publication. While Travelstart makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information, airline policies, schedules, and operational decisions may change at short notice. Travelstart cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies, omissions, or changes made by airlines or relevant authorities. Customers are advised to verify the latest updates directly with their airline prior to travel.

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