Here’s how the war is reshuffling international flights, and why this is an opportunity for Asian airports and airlines.
How we got here
The major Middle Eastern hubs — Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, and Doha in Qatar — sit at the intersection of Africa, Asia and Europe, a few hours by air from most of the world’s population. They grew rapidly over the past two decades with hefty government backing.
Last year, 16 percent of the world’s 417 million connecting passengers transited through the region, according to the International Air Transport Association, the airline trade group.
But after the war started, the drop was stark. Middle Eastern transfer traffic on routes connecting Asia and Western Europe fell by 47 percent in April year-over-year, according to Alton Aviation Consultancy, an advisory firm headquartered in New York.
As the conflict dragged on and airports in Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi were targeted by airstrikes, many flights were suspended or rerouted. Some governments urged passengers not to travel through the region.