Israel bombarded Lebanon on March 2 following rocket fire from Hezbollah, several American warplanes crashed in Kuwait and Iran lashed out against the region with missiles, as the war with Israel and the United States expanded.
Image: Fadel Senna/AFP
Airline Emirates says it is operating a reduced flight schedule after disruptions to airspace in parts of the Middle East, offering passengers the option to rebook or request refunds while the situation remains unstable.
In a travel advisory issued on Thursday, the Dubai-based airline said passengers booked to travel between February 28 and March 31 can either rebook their flights for travel on or before April 30 or apply for a refund if they no longer wish to travel.
Customers who booked directly through Emirates can submit refund requests through the airline’s website, while those who booked through travel agents are advised to contact their agents.
The airline also confirmed that all city check-in points across Dubai have been temporarily closed until further notice.
“Customers transiting in Dubai will only be accepted for travel if their connecting flight is operating,” Emirates said, urging passengers not to travel to the airport unless they hold a confirmed booking.
The airline added that it continues to monitor the situation and will adjust its operational schedule accordingly, with the latest updates published on its website.
The travel disruption comes after governments warned citizens in the region to leave while commercial flights remain available.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said there has been a sharp increase in South Africans registering their presence in the Middle East through its Travel Smart system.
According to DIRCO, more than 6,400 South African citizens in the region had registered their presence as of Wednesday.
The department urged citizens currently in the region for non-essential travel to make use of the limited commercial flights still operating to leave affected areas.
“Several airlines have resumed limited commercial flights out of the region. Citizens are strongly encouraged to take immediate advantage of this opportunity to leave,” DIRCO said, warning that heavy attacks are expected to continue in the coming days.
The department also reiterated its call for South Africans to avoid non-essential travel to the Middle East while the conflict continues.
South Africans in the region are also advised to register with the nearest South African embassy or consulate and to ensure their details are updated on DIRCO’s Travel Smart platform in order to receive assistance if needed.
Emirates has urged passengers to check their email notifications and review flight updates online before heading to the airport, noting that operational changes may occur at short notice as the situation develops.
IOL