As of around 9:52pm (SGT) on 15th March, reports state that conditions in West Asia are growing increasingly complicated, with Gulf states experiencing another barrage of attacks a day after Iran called for the immediate evacuation of three major ports in the United Arab Emirates.

While oil-loading operations resumed after a fashion at the port of Fujairah on the morning of the 15th, travel to and within the region remains a highly precarious situation.

With the conflict evolving almost every minute, the most prudent thing to do at this point is to monitor the situation and for travellers to follow the guidelines prescribed by embassies, travel agents, and airlines.

Likewise, we present several vital pointers for travellers who are either poised to head into West Asia or are headed elsewhere but have connecting flights within the region or long-haul journeys whose trajectories will bring them within the vicinity of conflict.

Situationer as of 16th March

Since the conflict first hit on 28th February, more than 21,000 flights have been cancelled globally thanks to the closure of airspace throughout West Asia, particularly over the Gulf states.

According to Indian publication Open:

“Major transit hubs including Dubai International (DXB), Hamad International (DOH) in Doha, and Zayed International (AUH) in Abu Dhabi were forced to either suspend or severely restrict their operations, which paralyzed the essential network that bridges Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.”

Also, as the crisis has driven up the price of crude oil to over US$100 per barrel, airlines have needed to adjust the prices of airline tickets in all classes.

As Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) president Subhas Menon puts it: "Right now the whole of the Middle East is out of bounds, which is a high price for some airlines. If then Europe can only be served at a high cost, airline profitability will be undermined. At the end of the day, the price to pay is connectivity."

The price of jet fuel isn’t the only factor driving up the price of the average plane ticket; the need to reroute flights through safer airspace also means longer hours in flight for aircraft, as well as more paperwork to make the necessary arrangements for passage through that airspace.

While the number of stranded passengers in West Asian airports has decreased thanks to emergency repatriation flights organised by world governments and private aviation service providers, there are still a sizable number of travellers awaiting a flight home or to safe havens throughout the region as of press time.

Indeed, as of the morning of the 15th, Air India has increased its emergency flights into the beleaguered region by around 62, offering succor to the stranded.

What to do right now

The United States’ Depart Now directive for its nationals within West Asia still holds as of press time, along with the following zoning alerts for the region:

• Red Alert: Iran, Iraq, and Syria. American citizens and those from elsewhere are advised to not enter the aforementioned nations. All travel into or out of these states is prohibited under current circumstances;
• Yellow Alert: Israel, West Bank, and Gaza. Travel to these locations poses significant risks with a high potential for internal disruptions; and
• Orange Alert: UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, as these nationals are at greater risk following direct missile interceptions and embassy security alerts.

Outside of these specifically pinpointed areas, other nations in West Asia and North Africa are taking their own protective measures.

In Jordan, national airspace is closed daily between 1800hrs and 0900hrs, though land borders like the Allenby Bridge and the Sheikh Hussein crossing operate with limited and unpredictable hours.

Egypt is currently at Alert Level 2 (travellers advised to take increased caution), but its airspace remains open and its primary aviation hub in Cairo is operating normally.

While both nations are relatively safe for now, travellers should expect outbound flight delays depending on their destination’s airspace status.

At the same time, American citizens travelling or currently residing in West Asia are advised to register under the Smart Traveller Enrollment Programme (STEP) which will enable relevant authorities to contact them should regional conflict escalate to facilitate quicker and safer evacuation.

Similar measures have also been implemented by Australia, Canada, the European Union, the Philippines, as well as the United Kingdom as of press time.