Asian airlines emerge on top as travellers fight for flights out of Middle East

Asian carriers like Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines (SIA) are among the best positioned airlines to weather the war in the Middle East as travellers scramble for flights – and pay huge premiums – to escape the conflict.Asian airlines have emerged as one of the go-to choices for people leaving the Middle East in the wake of US and Israeli strikes on Iran.Extensive airspace closures mean carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways have essentially ground to a halt, creating opportunities for rivals that can fly non-stop between Europe and Asia.Passengers in European hubs are handing over huge sums of money to secure a seat to Asia on flights that bypass the Middle East.Passengers stranded by suspended air traffic check into a hotel in Doha, Qatar, on Monday. Photo: EPAA one-way economy ticket flying SIA from Heathrow to Singapore on Thursday cost US$8,540 – a 900 per cent increase on fares later in the month. The same ticket on a flight to Hong Kong is HK$26,737 (US$3,400), compared with HK$5,670 in just a few weeks from now.