Travel Journal

Information current as of 2/4/26

We’re fielding a number of queries about the impact that the ongoing Middle East Conflict is currently having on travel, particularly with regards to Emirates’ flights from NZ via Dubai to Europe, so we thought it might be useful to answer some of the most frequently asked questions here:

1. Is Dubai International Airport open? Yes – as at 2/4/26, flights to and from Dubai International Airport are operating at approximately 36% of their normal frequency, so that’s equivalent to around 224 departures per day. You can view flight departures and arrivals in real time here. Emirates continue to operate daily from Christchurch via Sydney to Dubai and their Auckland-Dubai service is currently operating 3 times per week (Tues/Thurs/Sat). Emirates are operating to approximately 66% of their global network, just at reduced frequencies. They are operating to 37 destinations in 22 European countries. Emirates full current schedule is here Current flight schedule | Book a flight | Emirates
2. The New Zealand Government as at 22 March 2026 says “Do Not Travel” to Middle East destinations. Why are airlines still flying?
   Government travel advisories are guidance for travellers. Airlines make operational decisions based on aviation authority guidance and their own operational risk assessments. It is possible for a government advisory to be in place while flights continue to operate. The advice we have received from both Emirates and Qatar Airways is that they operate in safe corridors.
3. Is there any additional flexibility if I want to cancel or change my Emirates flights? Yes, for customers due to travel up to and including 30 April 2026, rebooking and rerouting may be offered up to 15 June 2026 and refunds are also offered.
4. Can I change my ticket to just transit through Dubai rather than stopover there? Yes, certainly, although there will be a reissue fee if your travel dates do not yet fall within their flexibility policy (ie after 30 April 2026).
5. What’s the situation with Qatar Airways? Qatar flights to and from Doha Hamad International Airport are operating through dedicated flight corridors, currently around 44 departures per day. If you have a confirmed booking with a travel date between 28 February and 15 June 2026, you are eligible for either complimentary date changes to a new travel date up to 31 October 2026 when rebooking on flights operated by Qatar Airways, subject to availability and fare seasonality, or a refund of the unused ticket value. Please note that refunds may take up to 28 days to be processed.
6. What are my options for flying to Europe if I choose not to fly via the Middle East? Depending on your travel dates, there is currently still limited availability at reasonable fares when flying via the USA (e.g with Air NZ and partner airlines via Houston, San Francisco, LA or New York or with Qantas and American Airlines via LA, New York or Dallas). The Asian routes via Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, China etc are more popular so these options are likely to be more expensive. Please ask your consultant for indicative pricing for your travel dates. We would then submit your Emirates tickets for a refund, which is currently taking approximately 3-4 weeks and collect payment for the new tickets whilst that Emirates refund is pending.
7. Will I be insured if I fly via the Middle East?  Travelling to a destination where a “Do Not Travel” advisory is in place e.g the Middle East currently  https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/news/middle-east-security-situation may also affect travel insurance cover depending on the policy and when it was purchased. In our Allianz Insurance policy document, there is no cover for war related events or change of mind for not travelling due to the conflict but the travel insurance policy will be in place for claimable events that are not caused by the war, such as an injury or illness prior to or during your trip. As always, all claims will be assessed on a case by-case basis in line with policy wording. We always encourage you to speak directly with your insurer to understand exactly what this may mean for your individual circumstances before making any decisions about your travel plans.
8. Should I cancel my trip? We cannot advise travellers whether they should travel or not, the decision to travel rests with the traveller.
   Our role is to help travellers understand:
   Current government advice which is subject to change as circumstances unfold.
   Whether flights or tours are operating.
   What your options are under airline or supplier terms (acknowledging that we cannot guarantee that there will not be changes made to these airline or supplier terms and conditions given the current circumstances).
9. What refund will I receive if I cancel? We return in full any refund amount that we receive from suppliers as is outlined in our terms and conditions. The refund may be less than the amount originally paid if the supplier applies cancellation fees or where commissions paid for services at the time of booking are not refundable. As travel agents we deliver our service at the time the booking was made, in situations like this we also work on your behalf to action cancellations, process refunds and secure alternative flights and routing for you in a very challenging environment. We will continue to do everything we can to support you both prior to and during your travel.

Please call your consultant on 03 364 3400 to discuss your specific circumstances.

The Discover Travel Team.