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, 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.
ATIA’s practical advice for travellers right now:
- Download your airline's app and check the Manage My Booking tab before heading to the airport to make sure your flight is actually going ahead
- Register with Smart Traveller https://www.smartraveller.gov.au
- If you're already in the Middle East and want to get home, register with DFAT now - Middle Eastern carriers are repatriating Australians with no additional charges
- If you’re booked to travel in the next few weeks, don’t Panic-Cancel.
- If you’re booked to travel in the next few months, talk to your accredited travel agent or tour operator as there are plenty of alternative routes
About us:
The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) is the peak body representing Australia’s $69 billion travel industry. ATIA represents the majority of Australian travel agents, corporate agents, tour operators, wholesalers and ITOs.
In 2025, ATIA members booked $13.5 Billion TTV of retail bookings, $11.8 Billion of Corporate Bookings and $5.6 Billion of Land Operations. Typically, at least 70% of all international air sales in Australia are through our members, and over 90% of corporate sales (medium and large businesses), rather than directly through airlines. Whereas with cruises, 73% of travellers use travel advisors to book.
An impressive 92% of ATIA members are small businesses, with women making up 72% of the workforce.
ATIA administers the ATIA Accredited program which is the largest and most representative accreditation scheme for travel businesses in Australia. ATIA represents over 1,120 ATAS members and over 28,000 employees nationwide, directly supporting 16.98 million Australian travellers every year.
Contact details:
FOR INTERVIEWS LJ Loch 0488 038 555 or [email protected]
