Passengers recount difficult journeys home as Gulf flights resume after conflict

Travellers returning from the Gulf region have described challenging experiences as limited flights resumed following days of disruption caused by the recent conflict. More passengers arrived home on Wednesday, five days after hostilities began with US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

Aviation analytics company Cirium reported that over 20,000 of more than 36,000 scheduled flights to or from the Middle East were cancelled since Saturday. The widespread cancellations left tens of thousands of travellers stranded in various locations around the world.

As airlines began to restore some services from major hubs such as Dubai and Riyadh, several governments also chartered planes to assist their citizens in returning home. Passengers arriving in countries including Australia, France, Germany, India, Russia, and Taiwan recounted enduring sleepless nights and lengthy ordeals as they attempted to leave the region amid the turmoil.

One traveller, Max Lin, a student from Taiwan, shared his experience of being caught off guard during a layover in Dubai. Lin was riding a motorcycle on the beach when he received a message from a friend on Saturday, the day the strikes began, informing him of the unfolding situation that disrupted his travel plans.

Many passengers described difficulties in securing flights and uncertainty about when they would be able to return home. The sudden escalation of conflict led to rapidly changing flight schedules and limited availability, compounding the stress for those trying to leave affected areas.

With some flights now resuming and governments stepping in to assist, stranded travellers are gradually making their way back. However, the impact of the cancellations and the ordeal faced by passengers highlight the far-reaching effects of the conflict on international travel.