Qantas reroutes non-stop Perth to London service as tensions rise between Israel and Iran
Qantas will reroute its non-stop flights from Perth to London as a “precaution” amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
The 17-hour QF9 flight, which usually heads straight to the UK capital, will now stop in Singapore to refuel before taking another flight path that dodges airspace above the region.
In a statement on Thursday, a Qantas spokesperson said the flight was “making adjustments” to some flight paths due to “the situation in parts of the Middle East as a precaution”.
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It is understood the flights out of Perth will be rebadged as QF209 to reflect the route change.
WA Transport and Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti, who was central in securing the direct flight, backed Qantas’ decision.
“Passenger safety must always be the number one priority, so while its disappointing to see the direct service temporarily rerouted, it’s the right decision,” Ms Saffioti said.
The move comes as Israel braces for retaliation from Iran over the deaths of Hamas’ political leader Ismael Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in the Lebanese capital of Beirut last month.
Palestinian military group Hamas and Lebanon-based militia Hezbollah are both backed by Iran, which vowed revenge on Israel after the deaths.
The Israeli government has only taken responsibility for Shukr’s death, which was declared as the result of an air strike on an apartment complex in Beirut — itself understood to be in retaliation to a rocket strike on a Druze community in Israel-occupied Golan Heights that killed at least 12 children and teenagers.
Qantas has previously paused the non-stop Perth-London route, which flies over the Middle East, in April after Iran followed through on threats it would strike Israel for killing a senior Iranian commander in Syria.
The airline’s update also follows urgent warnings from the Albanese Government for Australians in Lebanon to leave while they can.
Australian nationals abroad were warned they may be trapped if they do not get out before Beirut Airport — the country’s one and only international gateway — closes.
