PERTH- Qantas Airways (QF) was rerouted and turned back two of its long-haul international flights following a sudden military escalation in the Middle East, disrupting global air traffic.

The disruption came after Iran launched missile strikes targeting a US military base in Qatar, forcing several airlines to divert or suspend operations through the affected airspace.

Qantas flight QF33 from Perth (PER) to Paris (CDG) carrying 216 passengers returned mid-flight to Western Australia. Meanwhile, QF9, which departed from Perth for London (LHR), was diverted to Singapore (SIN) while crossing over Sri Lanka.

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According to the Daily Mail, the situation has led to widespread travel disruptions and triggered urgent responses from airlines and authorities alike.

Photo: Qantas

Qantas Flight Rerouted

The rerouting of Qantas flights comes amid rapid airspace closures across key Middle Eastern transit zones. The airline confirmed it is working with government bodies and aviation authorities to support affected passengers and restore services once airspace reopens.

Qantas also deployed additional ground staff at Hamad International Airport (DOH) and other major hubs to manage passenger recovery operations.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged travelers to monitor airline updates and follow official government advisories, warning that escalating tensions could severely impact global air connectivity.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), via Smartraveller, elevated its travel advisory for Qatar, encouraging travelers to exercise a high degree of caution due to regional instability.

Passengers aboard QF33 and QF9 were provided overnight accommodation in Perth and Singapore, respectively.

However, these diversions will impact the return legs—QF10 from London to Perth and QF34 from Paris to Perth. Qantas’ Sydney–Singapore–London routes (QF1/QF2) remain operational for now.

Qatar Airways (QR) announced a temporary suspension of select services due to the regional airspace shutdown.

Photo: Qatar Airways

Virgin Australia Flights Diversion

Virgin Australia (VA), which operates flights to Doha (DOH) through a wet lease with Qatar Airways, reported that VA1 (Sydney–Doha) was diverted to Bengaluru (BLR) and VA15 (Brisbane–Doha) to Muscat (MCT).

Both aircraft landed safely, with Qatar Airways coordinating guest recovery and onward arrangements.

These disruptions come just days after Virgin Australia resumed international long-haul flights in partnership with Qatar Airways, reintroducing services on Sydney–Doha and Brisbane–Doha routes.

Photo: By Robert Myers (CC-BY-SA 3.0 AU), CC BY-SA 3.0 au, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=99671465

Australian Government Travel Warnings

Australia issued an urgent travel warning for those flying to or transiting through Qatar, highlighting risks of sudden airspace closures, flight cancellations, and escalating regional tensions.

Demonstrations and sudden changes in local security conditions remain possible, with experts advising against participation in protests.

Australian aviation expert Keith Tonkin explained that countries can close their airspace without warning, often impacting vast airspace corridors. Current geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Ukraine, and South Asia are significantly limiting global flight paths.

Insurance specialist Tim Bennett of Finder advised that travel insurance premiums are likely to rise for itineraries involving Middle Eastern stopovers. Travelers are urged to review their policy coverage, especially post-alert issuance, as insurers may apply claim exclusions for newly booked policies.

Dean Long, CEO of the Australian Travel Industry Association, cautioned travelers against premature cancellations. “If the airline cancels, you’re guaranteed a full refund,” he said, assuring that agents or airlines will initiate contact regarding rebookings or refunds when necessary.

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Paris Bound Qantas Flight QF33 Turns Back to Perth Airport After Fifteen Hours in Air as Middle East Airspace Closes, New Update for You

A Paris-bound Qantas flight has shocked travelers and aviation experts alike by turning back to Perth Airport after fifteen long hours in the air. Qantas flight QF33, which was en route to Paris, suddenly reversed course mid-flight. The reason? A rapid closure of Middle East airspace following unexpected military escalations.

The Boeing 787 was flying smoothly when, without warning, it veered back toward Australia. Perth Airport, its original departure point, became its unexpected destination once again. Passengers onboard Qantas flight QF33 never imagined that after fifteen hours in the sky, they’d end up where they started.

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Meanwhile, the closure of Middle East airspace added to the urgency. The skies over the region became too dangerous. Qantas had to act fast. Flight QF33’s return to Perth was not just unusual—it was unprecedented.

Why did the airspace close so suddenly? What forced this Paris-bound flight to abandon its journey? The full story is as dramatic as it is unexpected.

Qantas Flight Turns Around Mid-Air After 15 Hours Due to Middle East Airspace Crisis, Stranding Passengers and Disrupting Global Routes

In a dramatic and unexpected turn of events, Qantas flight QF33 from Perth to Paris returned to its point of origin after nearly 15 hours in the air. The long-haul journey, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, was forced to abandon course as escalating missile strikes in the Middle East triggered sudden airspace shutdowns across Qatar and the UAE.

This extraordinary situation stranded hundreds of passengers, disrupted global flight paths, and sparked new concerns about airline operations amid rising geopolitical instability.

The Qantas Dreamliner, tail number VH-ZNM, departed Perth Airport at 20:01 AWST on Monday, June 23, 2025. Its mission was clear: a direct 17-hour flight to Paris. The aircraft climbed smoothly to 38,000 feet and made steady progress across the Indian Ocean.

However, hours later, as the aircraft approached Indian airspace near the west coast, everything changed. Reports broke of Iran launching missile strikes targeting the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. In swift reaction, the governments of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates closed their airspace without warning.

Flight Path Disrupted by Airspace Shutdowns

The decision left pilots with limited options. With no safe way to cross into the Middle East—a major corridor for flights from Australia to Europe—they made the call to turn back.

It was a rare and extraordinary event. After burning thousands of gallons of fuel, passengers expecting to wake up in Paris found themselves returning to Perth instead—nearly a full day later.

The flight touched back down on the same runway, 21 at Perth Airport, 17 hours and 7 minutes after its original departure. It had effectively circled the Indian Ocean with no destination reached.

Traveler Reactions: Exhaustion, Confusion, and Relief

For passengers onboard, the emotional toll was massive. After enduring the near-total duration of the long-haul flight, they stepped off the plane into the same terminal they had left the previous night.

The disappointment was immediate. Some were headed to weddings. Others were booked for connecting flights to other European cities. All had their plans derailed in a way no one could have predicted.

Meanwhile, the airline scrambled to provide accommodations, rebooking options, and support for the affected travelers. The atmosphere inside the terminal turned from anticipation to uncertainty, as families and solo travelers waited anxiously for updates.

Airline Response and Operational Challenges

Qantas is now navigating the complex task of managing re-routings, aircraft schedules, and crew rotations in light of the airspace disruption. With much of the Middle East corridor closed off, airlines must explore alternative routes—most of which mean longer flight times, higher fuel consumption, and increased costs.

Flight QF33’s turn-back serves as a grim reminder of how vulnerable long-haul operations remain in a world where political tensions can instantly reshape the skies.

Moreover, this disruption doesn’t only affect Qantas. Dozens of other carriers operating between Asia-Pacific and Europe depend heavily on Gulf region air corridors. Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, and other major players are now facing cascading delays and rerouting decisions.

Industry-Wide Implications and Route Realignments

The incident is expected to have far-reaching impacts across the travel and aviation sectors. Airlines may need to rethink traditional Euro-Asia routes, especially those flying over politically sensitive regions.

The closure of UAE and Qatar airspace—a vital air bridge—means longer detours over India, the Arabian Sea, and possibly even northern Russia. These options add hours to flight times and can strain both aircraft performance and crew limits.

For aviation strategists, it’s a logistical nightmare. For passengers, it means longer travel times, costlier tickets, and a growing sense of unpredictability in international travel.

Global Safety Concerns and Travel Anxiety on the Rise

Airspace closures driven by military conflict create immediate safety concerns for airlines and passengers alike. While no aircraft was directly endangered in this case, the implications are serious.

Flight paths that once seemed routine can become battlegrounds overnight. Passengers may now begin to question the reliability of long-haul international routes. Travel anxiety, already heightened post-pandemic, is only increasing.

Governments and international aviation authorities must now collaborate to update flight risk maps and improve real-time crisis coordination with carriers.

Economic and Tourism Fallout

The ripple effect of the QF33 incident is expected to touch tourism economies across Europe and Australia. With flights grounded or delayed, inbound and outbound tourism will take a hit—especially during the busy northern summer travel window.

France, a key tourism destination, stands to lose millions in potential revenue as flight disruptions keep travelers away. For Australia, the incident may affect confidence in outbound travel among leisure and corporate segments alike.

Hotels, event organizers, and travel agents are all left juggling cancellations and last-minute changes.

What This Means for the Future of Travel

Flight QF33’s return to Perth after 15 hours is more than an operational hiccup—it’s a reflection of a volatile travel era. One in which the world’s most efficient airline networks remain at the mercy of politics and power plays.

The travel industry must now double down on agility, resilience, and passenger communication. Airlines like Qantas will need to strengthen alternative routing strategies and invest in rapid response systems to protect passengers and assets.

Meanwhile, travelers must brace for a future where global mobility is no longer guaranteed—where even the most routine journey can be turned upside down by global events.

The sky may be vast, but today’s reality reminds us: it’s never fully under control.

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This is a developing news story and will be updated with more information as it becomes available.

Should I cancel my flight?

If you’re considering canceling or rerouting your flight due to regional tensions in the Middle East, be rest assured that airlines do a lot of work behind the scenes to determine whether or not a flight route is safe.

Airlines are constantly in touch with governments, regulators, and insurance companies to evaluate risk levels, Leff explains. “They’re in a better position to evaluate risk in a place they fly to on the other side of the world than most passengers are—so you may want to defer to them,” he says. “That said, no trip is risk-free. Commercial aircraft have been shot down—Iran shot down Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 in 2020, and Russia shot down MH17 in 2014.”

What happens if my flight is diverted?

If your flight is diverted to a different airport due to geopolitical risk, airlines will typically provide passengers with accommodations, meals, and new flight options or a refund. You can check your airline’s contract of carriage for specific details. For what US airlines are required to provide to passengers during substantial flight changes and delays, check the Department of Transportation’s Airline Customer Service Dashboard.

In the case of a flight diversion, “European carriers and other flights where EU261 applies still must offer basic ‘assistance’ rights (meals, hotel, rerouting, or refund),” Leff says. “US airlines generally honor these things even without an EU261. The Montreal Convention also applies.”

How are airlines responding?

Qatar Airways

Following the closure of Qatar’s airspace on Monday, Doha-based Qatar Airways temporarily suspended all flights and is now working to resume normal operations. The airline has warned passengers of “significant delays” on Tuesday and possible disruptions through June 26.

“Those who wish to change their travel dates may do so without paying a fee until July 15, 2025,” the airline said in a travel alert. “Customers who no longer wish to travel can opt to receive a refund of the unused value of their tickets, without any cancellation fee being applied.”

Emirates

“After a thorough and careful risk assessment, Emirates will continue to operate flights as scheduled, using flight paths well distanced from conflict areas,” Emirates said in a June 23 travel alert. “Some flights may incur delays due to longer re‑routings or airspace congestion, but Emirates’ teams are working hard to keep to schedule and minimize any disruption or inconvenience to our customers.”

(Bloomberg) — Passengers aboard a Paris-bound Qantas Airways Ltd. flight spent more than 15 hours in the air only to find themselves back where they started from in Australia after an Iranian missile attack shut down swaths of Middle East airspace.

The Boeing 787 jet departed Perth for the usual 17-hour haul to Paris at 7.35 p.m. local time Monday. It made it as far as the southwest fringes of Indian airspace when the airline was told about the missile attack, forcing it to turn around. The plane landed safely back in the Western Australian capital around 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Another Qantas flight from Perth bound for London Heathrow was also affected and diverted to Singapore, Qantas said in a statement.

Passengers on both flights will be accommodated overnight. The diversions will also affect the return flights from London and Paris, and Qantas said it is working through options for affected passengers.

The airline said it would continue to monitor airspace availability and utilize a number of flight paths for flights to Europe factoring in weather and the security situation.

Qantas’s non-stop European flights from Perth routinely fly over the Middle East region, and at times have been forced to take longer detours to skirt airspace restrictions or stop in Singapore to refuel.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

©2025 Bloomberg L.P.

Qantas Perth-Paris Flight Forced to Return After 15-Hour Journey Amid Iranian Missile Strikes and Airspace Shutdowns: Know More

In a remarkable turn of events, a Qantas Airways flight traveling from Perth to Paris found itself back at its point of origin after spending over 15 hours in the air. The unexpected journey was a direct result of Iranian missile strikes, which caused widespread closures in Middle Eastern airspace, disrupting numerous international flights, including Qantas’s Perth-London route.

On a routine flight departing Perth at 7:35 PM local time on Monday, passengers aboard the Boeing 787 aircraft were en route to Paris for what was expected to be a 17-hour journey. However, as the aircraft neared the southwestern borders of Indian airspace, the crew received crucial information regarding missile attacks in the Middle East. This unexpected development led to the decision to divert the flight and return to Perth. The aircraft touched down at approximately 11:00 AM on Tuesday, marking a full circle after an exhausting and fruitless journey.

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The ripple effect of these missile strikes didn’t stop with the Perth-Paris flight. Qantas’s Perth-London Heathrow service was similarly impacted, forcing a diversion to Singapore for refueling before continuing its journey. In an official statement, the airline confirmed that both services, including the Paris-bound flight, were subject to the disruptions caused by the unfolding situation in the region.

Qantas responded quickly to assist its stranded passengers, arranging overnight accommodation for travelers on both flights and committing to further steps to mitigate the ongoing disruptions. These unanticipated changes also affected subsequent flights departing from London and Paris, forcing Qantas to consider alternate solutions for impacted customers. The airline’s continued efforts to monitor and adjust flight paths are essential as it assesses airspace availability, taking into account weather and security concerns.

Direct services between Perth and Europe are an integral part of Qantas’s network, and typically, these flights traverse the Middle East, an area that has experienced increasing instability in recent weeks. Due to heightened tensions in the region, these routes occasionally face diversions to avoid restricted airspace or to make refueling stops in Singapore, as was the case with the Perth-London flight.

The context behind the disruption stems from broader geopolitical unrest. Recently, the escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict reached a critical juncture with the involvement of the US military. In response to an attack on American military facilities in Iraq, President Donald Trump authorized military strikes against Iranian sites, further intensifying the situation. Iran’s retaliation included missile attacks targeting American forces stationed at Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base. This caused Qatar to close its airspace, further complicating the already volatile situation in the region.

Since June 13, when Israel initiated military action against Iran, the airspace across the Persian Gulf and the broader Middle East has been fraught with uncertainty. Following the US military strikes, various airlines, particularly those based in Qatar and the UAE, began suspending operations as a precautionary measure. Despite a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Iran announced by Trump, the region remains highly volatile, leading several airlines to maintain flight suspensions and route adjustments.

In the aftermath, the global aviation industry experienced significant disruptions. Airlines, particularly those operating in or near the Middle East, faced widespread cancellations and delays, impacting travelers across multiple continents. Although the ceasefire provided a temporary relief, Tuesday’s developments, including violations of the agreement by both Israel and Iran, raised concerns over the long-term stability of the region’s air traffic.

Qantas Airways, along with several other airlines, will continue to evaluate the security of their flight routes, keeping passenger safety at the forefront of their decision-making. In the meantime, the airline has vowed to work on mitigating the effects of the ongoing crisis, ensuring that travelers affected by the airspace closures are well-informed and provided with timely assistance.

As air travel becomes increasingly impacted by geopolitical instability, passengers will need to remain flexible and stay informed about potential changes in flight schedules. Airlines like Qantas are working tirelessly to adapt to this unpredictable landscape, making adjustments and prioritizing safety in an era marked by uncertainty.

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