05/03/2026
You may have seen some of the recent headlines suggesting that “no one will be travelling for the next five months.”
Let’s add a little perspective.
Sensational headlines make for good clickbait, but they don’t reflect what is actually happening across the travel industry right now. Travel is still happening every single day. Flights are still operating, cruises are still sailing, and people are still heading off on the holidays they have been planning for months, sometimes years.
Yes, the current situation affecting parts of Middle East airspace is causing some disruption to global flight routes. Airlines are adjusting schedules and in some cases travellers may need to take a slightly longer route or allow a bit of extra flexibility.
But disruption does not mean travel has suddenly stopped.
In fact, the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has addressed these headlines directly, encouraging travellers not to cancel their trips without first seeking professional advice. You can read their comments here:
https://newshub.medianet.com.au/2026/03/talent-pitch-atia-ceo-pushes-back-on-cancel-your-europe-trip-headlines/142631/
A real example from my own desk this morning:
I have clients departing in mid-March whose flights were originally scheduled to travel through the Middle East. Rather than cancelling their long-planned trip, we’ve rerouted them via Asia.
Is it a disruption? Yes.
Are they a little out of pocket with the change? Yes.
Is that still far better than cancelling a trip they’ve been looking forward to for many months and potentially forfeiting significant costs? Absolutely.
This is exactly where having a travel advisor matters. When things shift, we adapt. We reroute, we find solutions, and we keep your trip moving forward.
Travel isn’t stopping. Sometimes it just needs a little adjustment!
05 March 2026: Reports suggesting Australians should cancel travel plans for the next six months are simply wrong. Etihad and Emirates are flying today. Asian carriers - Singapore Airlines, multiple Chinese carriers - are operating normally and providing reliable alternative routings to Europe. Yes...