"Paying 2 Million Won More for Direct Flights" Airfare Triples Amid Middle East Conflict

Avoidance of Middle Eastern Layovers as Tensions Rise... Surge in Demand for Direct Flights to Europe
Travelers Shifting Itineraries Amid Concerns over Dubai and Abu Dhabi Connections
Spike in Cancellations of Middle East Packages... Travel Agencies

Instability in the Middle East is now impacting the overseas travel market. As military tensions surrounding Iran continue to escalate, concerns are rising over flight routes that pass through the Middle East. This has led to increased demand for direct flights over connecting ones. There has also been a surge in inquiries about canceling travel products to Middle Eastern destinations such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and more travelers are changing their plans. In particular, among soon-to-be-married couples preparing for their honeymoons, the perception that "safety comes first" is spreading, and prices for direct flights to popular honeymoon destinations are soaring.

According to the travel industry on March 7, an increasing number of travelers who had planned trips to Europe are now changing their itineraries or flights. This is because many major international airlines use Dubai International Airport or Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport as stopover points on routes between Korea and Europe. With growing psychological concerns about routes that pass through the Middle East, demand for direct flights is on the rise.

Travelers are crowding the Incheon International Airport Terminal 1. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

Mr. Park, who is preparing for his honeymoon in Europe, said, "I initially booked flights that would take us to Europe via the Middle East, but after seeing the recent situation, I switched to a direct flight." He added, "We had originally booked two tickets for an itinerary that would return via Qatar at the beginning of next month for 2.58 million won, but in the end, we spent an additional 2 million won to switch to a direct flight with a Korean airline."

In fact, more travelers are now opting for direct flights instead of the previously popular and cheaper connecting flights via the Middle East. On some popular routes, direct flight ticket prices have more than tripled compared to before. The change is particularly noticeable for European routes popular among honeymooners. Prices for direct flights to destinations such as Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and Zurich are rising. For example, round-trip tickets to Paris, which used to cost between 1 million and 1.5 million won, have recently jumped to between 3.5 million and 5.5 million won.

Soon-to-be-married couples are facing growing concerns. For those who have already booked their honeymoon trips before their weddings, deciding whether to cancel or proceed is not easy. Increased psychological anxiety over connecting flights is also playing a role. While flights at major Middle Eastern airports such as Dubai are gradually resuming, travelers' concerns remain. Although most flights are returning to normal operations, travelers are tending to avoid routes that transit the Middle East as a precaution.

There has also been a surge in cancellation inquiries for travel products related to the Middle East. Major Korean travel agencies are guiding customers who cancel Middle East packages through the refund process. Hanatour has canceled all Dubai and Abu Dhabi-related packages departing from Incheon until March 10. Yellow Balloon and Modetour are also waiving all cancellation fees for products using Middle East transit routes if flights are canceled, and are providing guidance on cancellations. A travel industry official said, "From the 1st to the previous day, hundreds of Middle East-related packages have been canceled," adding, "We are responding to minimize customer losses."

Nol Universe has decided to fully cover the cost of return flights and additional accommodation expenses for package customers whose return schedules from the Middle East were delayed due to the recent Iranian airstrike incident. The company will bear the costs of meals, accommodation, and flight tickets incurred during the local stay. Furthermore, if customers scheduled to depart for the Middle East cancel their trips, all cancellation fees are being waived and a full refund is being provided.

Meanwhile, Korean tourists who had been stranded due to airspace restrictions and flight disruptions in Iran and neighboring countries are expected to return home soon. Hanatour and Modetour have secured seats for all 370 travelers to return via flights connecting through Southeast Asia and Taipei. As of February 28, there were about 200 Nol Universe package customers staying in the Middle East, but as of March 5, this had decreased to around 60. These customers have also secured seats on return flights and are scheduled to return home in full on March 8.

Yellow Balloon has also announced that it has secured return flights for all 70 of its customers currently staying in Dubai. Specifically, 24 people will return on March 8, and 46 on March 10, meaning the return schedules for all customers have been finalized. These customers will use Emirates flights to transit via Taipei, Bangkok, or Hong Kong, before boarding Korean Air flights to arrive at Incheon.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.