"Honeymoon Plans Upended: Engaged Couples Anxious Amid Middle East Conflict"

Will Air Routes Be Disrupted by the War?
Soaring Airfares and a Surge in Trip Cancellations

As the military conflict between the United States and Iran continues for an extended period, newlywed travelers planning to depart for Europe and resort destinations via the Middle East are experiencing repeated disruptions to their schedules.

According to Yonhap News on March 11, flight suspensions and cancellations at certain Middle Eastern airports have prompted travelers to change or cancel their plans, while surging airfares are further fueling the confusion.

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following attacks by the United States and Israel that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, the flight departing for Dubai from Incheon Airport on the 1st has been canceled. Yonhap News

Dubai International Airport, which ranked first in the world for international passenger traffic last year, is a major transit hub connecting Europe and Africa. Abu Dhabi Airport in the United Arab Emirates is also frequently used as a stopover by travelers heading to destinations such as the Maldives, Hawaii, and Mauritius. These two airports have been especially popular among newlyweds because tickets are less expensive than direct flights, and travelers can spend two to three days at the layover destination enjoying shopping and sightseeing. However, since Dubai became a target of retaliatory attacks from Iran, travel advisories have been issued for the region, raising growing concerns over safety.

Anxiety is also spreading through online communities frequented by engaged couples. Around 200 posts asking whether to change honeymoon plans due to the situation in the Middle East have been uploaded, and the number of participants in a KakaoTalk open chat room sharing Dubai travel information reportedly grew to over 1,600 people.

The situation for travelers currently staying in the region is also challenging. With flights to Korea suspended at major airports such as Dubai and Doha, some tourists are reportedly stranded locally, unable to secure return flights.

The travel industry has moved quickly to respond. Cancellations of travel packages to the Middle East have recently surged, and some travel platforms are receiving dozens of daily inquiries about canceling Middle East-related reservations. In response, major travel agencies such as Hanatour and Modetour are waiving cancellation fees and offering full refunds for Middle East-related products, while some agencies have effectively halted the operation of travel packages involving layovers in the region.

Surging International Oil Prices Increase Burden on Airlines

The burden on airlines is also rising as international oil prices soar due to the ongoing war. According to AFP, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) announced on March 10 (local time) that "the price of jet fuel in Europe has recently risen to its highest level since 2022 due to global supply disruptions," and stated that it would temporarily adjust ticket prices.

Amid the turmoil in the Gulf region's crude oil supply chain due to the war among the United States, Israel, and Iran, international oil prices are displayed in the dealing room at the Hana Bank headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 9th. Photo by Yonhap News

On the same day, Qantas Airways of Australia and Air New Zealand also announced ticket price increases, citing a rise in fuel costs. Hong Kong Airlines likewise plans to raise its fuel surcharge by up to 35.2% starting March 12. Jet fuel typically accounts for 20-30% of airline operating expenses. The price of jet fuel often rises more sharply than crude oil because of the premiums added during refining, storage, and transportation. According to UK-based commodity information provider Argus, the jet fuel premium in Northwest Europe compared to Brent crude reached a record high of $97 per barrel.

Southeast Asian low-cost carriers (LCCs) that have not sufficiently hedged against oil price volatility are reportedly considering the possibility of suspending operations if they are unable to absorb the rising cost of jet fuel. According to Bloomberg News, some airlines are even considering reducing operations due to the burden of fuel costs.

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