Oliver Travel

05/03/2026

Please find an update and clarification in relation to the media reports released this morning about travelling in the next 5 months.

Reports suggesting Australians should cancel travel plans for the next six months are simply wrong. Etihad and Emirates are flying today (albeit repatriation flights). Asian carriers - Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, multiple Chinese carriers & Qantas - are operating normally and providing reliable alternative routings to Europe. Yes, flight times may be slightly longer. No, you don't need to cancel your trip.

With headlines telling Australians to cancel their travel plans, ATIA CEO Dean Long is available today to offer a grounded, expert counterpoint and reassure travellers that Europe is still very much on the table.

Quotes from ATIA CEO Dean Long:

"There are plenty of safe ways to get to Europe and the aviation sector has and will continue to adapt. Asia is open and operating. We have flights coming out of the Middle East. There will be some delays and a bit more disruption than what we're used to but no one in the travel industry is going to put you in a place where it's unsafe."

“Importantly, do not cancel. Whether you are booked to travel in the next weeks or planning to travel in coming months. If you’re booked to go shortly via the Middle East, it is critical that you do not panic-cancel but rather wait for your airline to cancel as otherwise you are erasing all of your rights of a refund or rebook. If your trip is in the next couple of months, talk to your accredited travel agent or tour operator as there are plenty of alternates.”

This is a situation the industry has navigated before. Twelve months ago, a 12-day conflict in the Middle East caused disruption and the travel industry resolved it quickly.

There are plenty of safe ways to travel and our team at Oliver Travel can advise you on the best options for your forthcoming trips

If you are worried or concerned, please feel free to contact us

We are here for you

Middle East conflict is disrupting commercial flight paths to Europe, affecting Australian travellers over the coming months.

01/03/2026

Middle East Update No. 2

Qatar Airways: All flights to and from Doha have been suspended, affecting travel between 28 February and 6 March 2026. Operations will resume once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirms safe reopening of Qatari airspace.

Emirates: All operations to and from Dubai have been suspended until 1500hrs UAE time (2130hrs ACDT) on Sunday, 1 March 2026, with further updates expected as authorities assess the situation.
Other Airlines: Additional carriers including Etihad Airways, flydubai, Air Arabia, Saudia, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air, and selected EgyptAir and Turkish Airlines services are also experiencing disruptions

Your Options:

Both Qatar Airways and Emirates have implemented flexible policies for affected passengers.

If you are travelling in the next few days: Please do not proceed to the airport. Please contact us immediately so we can:
• Confirm your current flights status
• Discuss your options
• Explore alternative routing via unaffected carriers or hubs

If you are travelling after 06 March 2026:

While your travel may not be immediately affected, the situation remains fluid:
• Monitor your email – we will send updates as the situation develops
• Check your flight status regularly at www.qatarairways.com/travel-alerts or www.emirates.com/au/ english/help/travel-updates
• Stay in contact with our team as your departure date approaches.
• Visit smarttraveller.gov.au for latest government advice
We will proactively reach out if we believe your booking may be impacted.


We know that travel disruptions can cause concern, disappointment and practical challenges. We are here to navigate this with you. Our team has decades of combined experience managing complex travel disruptions, and we will use that expertise to advocate for you and find the best solution for your circumstances.

Thank you for trusting us as we work through this challenging time together.
We are here for you!

*This communication is current as of 01 March 2026 at 2pm ACDT. The situation is evolving rapidly and information may change. We will contact affected travellers as new information becomes available.

01/03/2026

The Oliver Travel Team continues to closely monitor developments across the Middle East region. Due to ongoing regional developments, several regional Middle East countries have closed their airspace (Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Dammam, Riyadh and the UAE), we are monitoring the situation and will keep this advisory updated.

In times like these, we rely on official sources such as government travel advisories, airline communications, and cruise line updates, rather than social media speculation or sensationalised headlines.

If you have concerns about your upcoming travel plans or need assistance navigating this evolving situation, please don't hesitate to contact us on 0459 654 837

Your safety and peace of mind remain our priority

24/02/2026

Welcome to the Masai Mara

Thanks to James and Phil on our trip for allowing me use some of their photos

21/02/2026

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21/02/2026

21/02/2026

Welcome to Sunrise Zanzibar style

21/02/2026

This afternoon we drove for about an hour from Stone Town to the East side of the island where we were lucky to stay at Baraza Resirt & Spa. Voted one of the top 30 beaches in the world voted by Conde Nast Traveller and has been voted one of the top 25 luxury hotels in the world! A beautiful resort with only 30 villas

21/02/2026

Stone town is made up of tiny narrow streets with bustling markets selling everything from spice to veggies to everyday items and course a huge fish market. (Not the place you want to be at midday on a very hot summers day)

Prison island (30 minutes off the coast)and a stone town walking tour are highlights. Stone town is a 3.5km triangle which is the old town which is home to 86,000 residents on the outside of stone town is new town where 800,000 residents live

The famous son from Zanzibar is Freddy Mercury from Queen and in his honour is a museum worth visiting