The Briefing The biggest travel disruption since COVID + Great Barrier Reef shark attack
Mar 5, 2026
Professor Ron Bartsch, aviation safety expert and professor, breaks down how Middle East airspace closures are reshaping global travel. He discusses why lost hubs like Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi force reroutes through Asia. He explains how airlines will respond, the likely rise in airfares and what travellers should consider about cancellations and safety.
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Multiple Middle East Hubs Being Knocked Out
- The Middle East airspace closure is unique because it removes multiple major hubs at once rather than just rerouting around a single conflict zone.
- Professor Ron Bartsch highlights that Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi carriers and hubs being out of action creates sustained global disruption beyond simple reroutes.
Uncertainty Persists Because Airlines Need Clear Risk Data
- Airlines must wait for clear facts and risk assessments before resuming operations, meaning uncertainty will persist as the conflict evolves.
- Bartsch notes 'with war, the first casualty is the truth,' emphasising how information gaps hinder quick returns to normal schedules.
Alliances Made Middle East Hubs Critical For Australia
- Airline alliances and code sharing made Middle Eastern hubs critical for Australian connections, so their removal forces carriers to shift traffic through Asian hubs.
- Bartsch names Singapore and Hong Kong as likely alternate routings, causing domino effects on capacity.