Chaos for Australian travellers as airlines delay and cancel flights amid Israel-Iran conflict

Travellers were denied boarding and forced to return through immigration – with some spending more than $10,000 on new flights with no prospect of a refund in sight.

Qatar’s brief airspace closure prompted a number for flight diversions and cancellations across the world. Photo: iStock

Fearful Sydneysiders are being forced to spend thousands of dollars or cancel their travel plans amid uncertainty in the Middle East, as Sydney Airport is inundated with frustrated travellers desperate for information.

Lisa Jarvis, 53, told The Daily Telegraph she wasn’t even able to get on her flight to Doha, via Virgin Airlines, which was due to depart Sydney on Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s been quite stressful. It was really bad, we were just about to board when staff announced any passengers whose final destination wasn’t Doha, they won’t be allowed to get on the plane,” she said.

Lisa Jarvis (right) and her children were en route to visiting her mother in Dublin for a family gathering. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Ms Jarvis, a Marrickville local, said it was lucky she could head home after the chaos.

“If you knew you were booked on another flight, or if you were getting a refund, it would be less stressful.

“On top of that, everyone is saying you can’t cancel the flight because [the missile strikes] are an act of war. So for the four of us, you’re talking a loss of 12,000 dollars.”

The family was forced to max out a credit card to rebook flights with Qantas.

They are now due to board three flights to Japan, Germany, then finally, Ireland.

Qatar’s airspace was closed after Iran fired missiles at the United States’ Al Udeid air base. The closure only lasted a few hours, but caused significant disruptions to airlines across the world, who were forced to either cancel flights or divert their routes.

On Tuesday morning, flight VA1 from Sydney to Doha was diverted to Bengaluru and was forced to perform a U-turn halfway through the flight. VA15, heading from Brisbane to Doha, was also diverted to Muscat.

Two Adelaide flights operated by Qatar Airways, QR914 arriving from Doha, and QR915, departing for Qatar’s capital, were both cancelled later that day.

Major airlines like Qantas, Emirates, Etihad, British Airways and Singapore Airlines were also impacted, though several are resuming flights through the Middle East as of Wednesday morning.

Virgin Australia’s ‘wet lease’ with Qatar Airways only came into effect about a month ago. Picture: Supplied

For Katie O’Connor, 39, looking at an alternative flight wasn’t an option on Tuesday evening – all the flights through Japan were sold out.

“People are obviously trying to not travel through the Middle East – prices are elevated too,” she said.

“Because we have no documentation, we were only verbally told we couldn’t get on our original Doha flight, we can’t be sure we’ll get a refund from Qatar Airways.”

Ms O’Connor said she estimated “well over a hundred people” were refused from boarding the flight.

”Nobody can get in touch with Qatar, we’re absolutely in the dark, … we were told verbally at the gate that we couldn’t board, and that was it.”

Ms O’Connor said her, and almost 100 others, were “absolutely in the dark” after the flight disruption. Picture: Jonathan Ng

It was the second day of frustrating, unpredictable delays for locals travelling to Europe, as confusion reigned following the closure of Qatar’s airspace.

On Tuesday morning, what was meant to be an exciting milestone – the thrill of a first overseas trip without her parents – turned into a tense, sleepless ordeal for Vivian Sophia Kokkinidis.

The 20-year-old, who hails from Sans Souci, said anxiety over her scheduled layover in Doha, had kept her awake since 3am, constantly monitoring the news in the aftermath of air strikes hitting Qatar’s capital.

Vivian Kokkinidis, 20 (right) and Alexia Constantine, 20, were up all of Tuesday morning to check if it safe to go on their Greece trip, via Doha. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“Mum and I just sat on the couch all morning waiting for new updates and delays.

“At one point, the flights were cancelled. Then our layover got changed to an Indian city, then hours later we were going back to Doha,” she said.

“I then got a call from my travel agent just before 10am saying, no, it’s been cancelled completely, but then they said there’s been a ceasefire, and we ended up back at Sydney Airport.”

Ms Kokkinidis admitted feeling so stressed the entire morning she considered not getting on the flight. “My friend and I both couldn’t sleep. We were going back and forth with the travel agent, it was really stressful, I don’t really want to be going at the moment.”

Her travel partner, Alexia Constantine, 20, said she also “freaked out” for most of the morning, but added she hoped the airline is doing what’s best for passengers.

Ms Constantine added; “But if the flight turned back home on the way, I wouldn’t even complain.”

Originally published as Chaos for Australian travellers as airlines delay and cancel flights amid Israel-Iran conflict