<div id="readability-page-1">The escalating conflict in the Middle East is set to drive up travel costs for Hong Kong passengers as many are forced to opt for more expensive direct routes to Europe, according to analysts. They said on Monday that the suspension of major transit hubs in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Doha in Qatar had left travellers scrambling for seats on direct flights or “conflict-free” paths to Europe, with surging demand set to trigger a spike in airfares. Global air travel has been disrupted after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, which led to the closure or severe restriction of operations at key transit airports across much of the Middle Eastern airspace. Law Cheung-kwok, a senior adviser at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Aviation Policy and Research Centre, said the ongoing conflict would inevitably burden passengers, citing a significant surge in oil prices. “While many originally planned to transit through the Middle East, they are now likely to rearrange their itineraries or switch to other airlines and avoid flying over the region for safety reasons,” Law said. “From the perspective of the airlines, they will certainly increase ticket prices to mitigate rising expenses. War makes everything expensive. There is no way around it.” He noted the impact on business travellers might be more severe, as they had no choice but to absorb the higher price of direct flights compared with holidaymakers, who could be more flexible in adjusting their trips. The Travel Industry Council said on Monday that beyond travellers stranded in the Middle East, the suspension of all flights at major transit hubs such as Dubai and Doha was also disrupting air traffic to Europe and Africa, which made it difficult for them at the moment to ascertain the number of travellers affected. Yuen Chun-ning, chief executive officer of travel agency WWPKG, said there was significant concern among Hong Kong travellers regarding the potential for the conflict to spread to other countries, particularly with the Easter holiday period approaching in early April. “Many people are worried since the long-haul routes are especially popular for the coming Easter holidays,” Yuen said. “Over the past two days, travellers scheduled for trips from mid-March onwards – including those transiting through the Middle East or visiting Dubai – have been constantly asking what will happen.”  He said some travellers were now also wary of visiting destinations such as Turkey, which some perceived as being on the same high-risk flight route as the Middle East. “Those looking to avoid the conflict zone are shifting their travel plans towards alternative regions, such as Southeast Asia or opting for northern flight paths to Europe and southern routes to Australia and New Zealand,” Yuen said. Li Hanming, an independent aviation consultant, said that the conflict’s impact was especially pronounced for Hong Kong travellers because of their reliance on connecting routes to Europe. About 30 per cent of flights from the city transited through the Middle East and 20 per cent through mainland China, while 40 per cent were direct flights, he said. “Emirates and Qatar Airways are providing a lot of seats, especially for price-sensitive leisure and family passengers on the trips between Europe and Southeast Asia,” Li said, adding the Dubai airport handled more than 80 million passengers every year. “If transit through Middle Eastern hubs is disrupted, the choices for Hong Kong travellers to Europe would be reduced to transiting through mainland China or flying direct, both of which are generally more expensive.” On the cargo front, Li highlighted that the Middle East served as a critical gateway for Chinese e-commerce. Due to current disruptions, shipments were being forced onto alternative routes, with all packages being diverted through Russia or Azerbaijan, he said. Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways suspended its Riyadh flights until Tuesday and Dubai services until Thursday.</div>

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<p>The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is expected to increase airfares for Hong Kong travelers, as many are now opting for more expensive direct flights to Europe due to the suspension of major transit hubs in Dubai and Doha. Analysts indicate that rising demand for direct flights will lead to higher ticket prices, particularly affecting business travelers. Concerns are growing among travelers about the potential spread of the conflict, prompting shifts in travel plans towards safer regions. The disruptions are also impacting cargo routes, with shipments being rerouted through alternative paths.</p>

Middle East conflict to drive up airfares for Hong Kong travellers: analysts