The conflict between Israel, the US and Iran is affecting many European tourists who are waiting in Asia for a return flight to their homes. Most flights via the Gulf states have been cancelled, and many stranded travellers are trying to fly to Europe via alternative routes, for instance via India. A transfer in India often requires a mandatory visa.
Major airport hubs in the Gulf States closed
The Gulf States are home to important airport hubs where many intercontinental flights make stopovers. Airports in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are major hubs through which countless travellers pass every day. Dubai International Airport is one of the busiest in the world and also the home base of Emirates Airways. Abu Dhabi and Doha are the home bases of Etihad and Qatar Airways.
Since the start of the war, most of these airports have been closed to commercial flights. Many flights departing from these cities have been cancelled or delayed, and many intercontinental flights are being diverted. Air traffic from Dubai was even temporarily suspended entirely due to Iranian attacks on the airport. Although air traffic from the Emirates and Qatar has been gradually resuming over the past few days, there are still many European travellers stranded in the Middle East or in other Asian countries.
Impact on passengers
Flight cancellations do not only affect travellers who are currently in the Middle East. Tourists in other countries such as Sri Lanka, South-East Asia, Indonesia, China, Australia and New Zealand are also affected by developments in the Middle East. This is because flights from these countries to Europe often involve a connecting flight or stopover in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha.
Travellers who are stranded at their destination due to the Middle East crisis can often make use of streamlined visa procedures. For example, Indonesia has introduced a special emergency visa for travellers who are unable to leave the country. People in India whose visas are about to expire can contact a Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for an extension. Anyone tourist who is currently in Sri Lanka will receive a free of charge 14-day visa extension.
Alternative routes
Travellers who want to travel to Europe from South-East Asia, China or Oceania must temporarily use alternative flight routes. Travellers in Australia can take flights via Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok, from where direct flights to Europe depart. Travellers visiting Sri Lanka often opt to fly via India.
Air India has announced that it will operate 78 additional flights on nine international routes between 10 and 18 March. These include services between Delhi and Amsterdam, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, New York, Colombo and Male, and between Mumbai and London. In addition, IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has announced that flights to Amsterdam, Manchester and London will resume.
Visa requirements for transit passengers
Travellers who need to fly to Europe via India should be aware that, in most cases, a visa is required for a stopover in India. Only if they will not leave the transit area at the airport are they allowed to travel to India without a visa. In the vast majority of cases, travellers need to go through passport control and then re-check their luggage for the onward flight. In this situation, a visa is always required.
You can apply for a special transit visa via the Indian immigration service’s website. This visa is known as the e-Transit Visa. If you will be leaving the airport in India or need to stay in India for one or more days whilst waiting for your connecting flight, you can apply for your Indian visa on this website. Visas for India are processed on average within 7 days. If you need your visa for India urgently, you can submit an urgent application, which is often processed within 24 hours on average.