Middle East war has pushed up air fares 24%, research shows
Airspace closures caused by the Middle East conflict have forced airlines across Europe to reroute flights, adding significant distance and fuel costs to journeys. Research firm Teneo found air fares have surged 24% as a result of these disruptions.
The Iran-US-Israel military conflict has closed critical airspace corridors that connect Europe to Asia, forcing international carriers to add thousands of kilometres to standard routes. Airlines flying between Europe and Asia-Pacific destinations now transit around the Arabian Peninsula, adding 4-6 hours to typical flight times and substantial fuel burn.
Teneo's analysis tracked ticket price increases across major European hubs and intercontinental routes, showing a 24% average surge. The increase reflects both higher jet fuel costs and the labour overhead of longer flight duty times. Business and leisure travellers have absorbed much of this cost, with fares remaining elevated even as oil prices show some volatility.
European budget carriers and full-service airlines face margin pressure from these elevated fuel and routing costs, with some carriers reporting they cannot fully pass increases to price-sensitive leisure segments. The disruption is expected to persist as long as Middle East tensions remain elevated and airspace remains restricted.
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