STORY: Flight prices from Asia to Europe have soared after major Middle Eastern airports closed due to the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
Many popular routes are fully booked for days, with very few seats left.
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Major Gulf hubs like Dubai international airport, which normally handles over 1,000 flights a day, remained shut on Tuesday.
This has slashed capacity on routes such as Australia to Europe, where Gulf carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways usually dominate.
In Australia, planes stayed grounded at Sydney airport on Tuesday, as additional flights to the Middle East were cancelled.
Australia's Flight Centre Travel Group said it has experienced a 75% increase in calls to stores and emergency lines since the crisis began.
Travel disruptions have also spread to other hubs.
Dozens of stranded passengers waited outside ticket offices of Middle Eastern airlines at Thailand's Phuket International Airport on Tuesday.
This passenger expressed her frustration over being stranded.
She said she and her family were unable to return home and are facing extra expenses.
However, airlines using direct routes or unaffected hubs may gain passengers short-term as people avoid Gulf carriers.
Reuters on Tuesday found few near-term seats and elevated prices for Asia to London flights.
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Airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Thai Airways are filling seats fast and demanding high fares for the few places that are available.
