Squeezed skies: How avoiding war zones is driving up the cost of your flight

Long-haul Europe flights are getting more expensive and complex as airlines reroute traffic away from areas near conflict zones in the Middle East. The impact is visible in passenger numbers at transit hubs: OAG data shows connecting bookings through Doha fell 52% after the Iran conflict, while Dubai dropped 44%. Asian hubs absorbed more demand, with European transit traffic rising 32% through Singapore and surging 48% through Hong Kong. Airlines are crossing narrower corridors over places like Azerbaijan, or flying farther south across Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the Mediterranean. Australian Travel Industry Association’s Dean Long says cheaper fares may come from flying through different airspace with different risk levels.