When Flying Cheap Through the Middle East Comes With a Catch

As the Iran war enters its seventh week, one travel dynamic remains unchanged: flights via the Middle East are among the cheapest options between Europe and Asia.

But that affordability now comes with a clear trade-off: travelers must route through regions where many governments advise against all but essential travel – potentially invalidating insurance. For passengers, the question is simple: is the saving worth the risk?

Skift analysis of sample fares reveals a stark pricing divide between routes via the Middle East and those avoiding the region. We examined a range of popular city pairs linking London and Paris with key Asia-Pacific destinations.

On London–Sydney, Gulf carriers Qatar Airways (£5,243) and Emirates (£5,603) offered significantly lower business class fares than alternatives — all of which require at least one transit stop — with prices rising sharply at Singapore Airlines (£12,062), Qantas (£12,278), and British Airways (