Here’s what you need to know if you find yourself stuck at Changi.
Why were flights disrupted?
The Middle East conflict began last Saturday when the U.S. and Israel carried out military strikes on Iran that killed its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated with attacks targeting Israel as well as Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
At least eight countries, including Qatar, Jordan and the UAE, have since closed their airspace, according to The Guardian.
As a result, flights to and from several Middle Eastern airports, including Dubai the world’s busiest for international traffic, have been suspended.
How many flights were canceled?
Singapore Airlines said on Sunday that it had canceled two daily services between Singapore and Dubai, namely SQ494 (Singapore to Dubai) and SQ495 (Dubai to Singapore), from Feb. 28 to March 7, affecting a total of 16 flights.
Two flights operated by its low-cost subsidiary Scoot, including TR596 (Singapore to Jeddah) and TR597 (Jeddah to Singapore), were also canceled on Feb. 28, and March 2, 3, 5 and 7, the carrier noted.
A spokesperson for Changi Airport Group said 32 departing flights from Singapore scheduled between Feb. 28 and March 7 had been scrapped due to the Middle East situation, with Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Jeddah among affected destinations, TTG Asia reported.
Half of those cancellations were slated for March 2 to 7.
I have been stranded at Changi Airport. What should I do?
Passengers stranded at Singapore’s Changi Airport should remain vigilant and informed and check their airline’s official website or Changi Airport’s communication channels regularly for the latest flight updates, according to Travel and Tour World.
Airlines are generally providing rebooking assistance, so affected passengers should speak with airline staff about alternative arrangements and any available compensation, such as meal vouchers or hotel accommodation, if needed.
Given the scale of the disruption, passengers should also stay in contact with carriers through customer service hotlines, mobile apps or airport counters to receive timely updates.
While waiting, they can make use of facilities operated by Changi Airport, including lounges, rest areas and retail outlets, to make the delay more manageable.
Can I rebook or get refund?
Singapore Airlines said affected customers would be rebooked on alternative services or offered a full refund for the unused portion of their tickets. It advised travelers to update their contact details through the Manage Booking feature on the SIA and Scoot websites, or sign up for mobile notifications to receive the latest updates.
The Straits Times reported on Tuesday that some foreign passengers stranded in Singapore managed to rebook their flights, though only after long waits at airline counters and on customer service hotlines.
Emirates passengers with travel dates beyond the week of March 2 were told to revisit the airline’s office closer to their departure date or modify their bookings online.
Qatar Airways posted a notice at its office on Church Street in the city-state stating that it lacked facilities to handle reservations and ticketing matters and directing customers to manage their itineraries through digital channels instead.
Many travelers, particularly those who purchased tickets via third parties, remained unclear about their options as they had yet to receive direct communication from their airlines.
Several travel agencies in Singapore are racing to assist clients caught up in the disruption, as reported by Channel News Asia.
For instance, EU Holidays is arranging full refunds for some customers, including 20 travelers who were due to depart for Egypt on Tuesday. The agency’s director said efforts are being made to ensure that clients affected by the flight disruptions have accommodation and find a way to return as soon as possible.
Another firm, Super Travels, is supporting about 180 customers with trips scheduled over the next two weeks and allowing them to cancel with applicable charges, defer their holidays or switch to alternative destinations.
It remains uncertain when flight operations will return to normal. According to Reuterssome carriers, including Emirates, flydubai and Etihad Airways, have restarted a limited number of services, but largely to repatriate stranded passengers.
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