Despite geopolitical uncertainty, confidence in Gulf carriers remains largely intact, with competitive pricing and consistent service delivery cited as key factors supporting continued bookings. However, uncertainty around potential disruption remains the primary concern for travellers.
“Tensions in the region create a fear of sudden airspace closures or operational disruptions. From a corporate and duty-of-care perspective, the unpredictability is the biggest risk, as it can result in stranded travellers, rerouting challenges, and knock-on operational costs,” said Joey Kganyago, Travel Manager at IDC.
As a result, some travellers are opting for alternatives. “We’ve seen clients pivot towards, Ethiopian Airlines for example, which is cheaper than European carriers. That provides a level of certainty that their flights won’t be impacted and the dates won't change. A schedule change is inconvenient, but we need to communicate and ensure clients understand that if they choose Gulf carriers there’s a chance it could change and they need to be flexible and open to that,” said Paolo Giuricich, Head of Investec Travel.
Pricing drives demand
Despite risks, many travellers remain keen to use Gulf carriers because of cost pressures, network reach, and product familiarity.
“I will quote Gulf carriers as an option as they have the cheapest fare options in the market currently,” said Deneal Ball from On the Ball Travel.
Price is not the only factor, according to Kganyago. “Gulf carriers deliver excellent service levels and reliable networks. Many non-Gulf airlines have taken advantage of the current situation by increasing fares, in some cases to levels that are difficult to justify from a corporate travel standpoint. When weighing value for money, comfort, service quality, and route efficiency, Gulf carriers often remain the more practical option,” said Kganyago.
Giuricich says it comes down to an individual traveller's choice. “Clients need to decide whether they want to go direct and pay the prices of direct flights. When they look at Gulf carriers, they might have a different view based on price. Clients need to decide what level of risk they can put up with and we place the onus on clients to make decisions for themselves.”
Managing expectations
With conditions shifting rapidly, managing client expectations becomes essential. Ball said she was cautious when offering clients fares through the Middle East but said it was important to quote on alternatives as well.
“Clients are shell shocked by the war and the impact it’s having. We need to provide firsthand experience and information around what it is like using the Gulf carriers. We also have to manage expectations that things could change at the last minute and they need to be flexible,” added Giuricich.
Clients need to be made aware of the potential risks. “We manage concerns through transparent communication, clearly outlining potential risks, sharing contingency planning options, and ensuring travellers understand what support mechanisms are in place should disruptions occur,” said Kganyago.
Candice Harrington, Director at Lumela Travel, recommends other carriers for time-sensitive trips. “If you are travelling with set dates and attending a conference, sporting event or meeting, it’s safer to go with a different carrier until the war has subsided.”
Trusted carriers
Despite the challenges, agents have praised the airlines’ response to the situation. Harrington said the carriers had remained focused on passenger safety, not taking risks that could endanger lives.
“Qatar and Emirates have been updating agents on a daily basis which has been important,” said Ball.
Giuricich added that as Etihad’s after-sales representation was more limited, it was generally not the first choice to sell. “With Emirates and Qatar Airways, we are very comfortable to recommend them because the quality of their service, both in the air, on the ground and the after-sales service is excellent – we have the required relationships because of their local representation.”
