You can avoid the Middle East and still get an affordable flight to Europe

Planning to fly to Europe this year? If you haven’t already booked, you’re probably wondering which route is going to be safe, with little risk of cancellations.

The obvious answer is a flight either with Qantas or one of the Asia-based carriers, which are skirting the trouble spots around the Persian Gulf, but there lies a conundrum. One of those Gulf-based carriers is offering unbelievable deals.

A business class flight from Melbourne to London, departing mid-April and returning in the first week of May, costs as little as $4881 flying with Etihad. That’s less than half the cost of the same flight a year ago. It’s also almost $2000 cheaper than a premium economy flight with Emirates for the same route and dates.

It’s safe to assume that Etihad is priming the pump since it’s impossible to say whether those flights will operate. If you’re tempted, you’d be wise to have a back-up plan, namely a booking with Qantas or an Asian carrier, which would have a far greater certainty of operating. Make sure it’s a flexible booking that allows you to cancel with only a small fee and you’re protected if the Etihad flight fails to materialise. Until the situation in the Persian Gulf is resolved and flights return to normal, booking flights with any Gulf State carrier is a risky proposition.

Another fact to take into account, the UAE and Qatar currently have a “Do not travel” warning on the Smartraveller website. If you get stuck there, or even pass through in transit, your standard travel insurance won’t apply, nor will the Australian government gallop to your aid.

Leaving the Gulf State carriers out of the picture, economy class airfares to Europe are not looking too painful. On Skyscanner, a flight from Melbourne to London, departing in mid-April and returning in the first week of May, starts from as little as $1295 with Air China. Sydney to Paris in early June, returning at the beginning of July costs $2167 with Malaysia Airlines, $2273 with Qantas. Melbourne to Rome in early September, returning at the end of that month costs $2599 aboard Qantas and $2330 with Turkish Airlines. Those fares are comparable to what you would have paid in 2025. But in business class it’s a different story.

How can you find a business class fare to Europe without breaking the bank?

The China-based carriers together with Vietnam Airlines still have sub-$10,000 business fares return to Europe, but the starting price for a return business class ticket aboard Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, ANA or Turkish any time in the next six months is $12,000.

Mark Trim is the founder and managing director of Adelaide-based Flat Beds, which sells nothing but business class flights, often at keen prices. Parent company Complex Travel Group, formerly known as RoundAbout Travel, recently launched a Creative Flights To Get To Europe campaign offering alternative flights to Europe, including one that travels via South Africa, and these are some of the best fares for anyone looking to fly business class at a decent price.

According to Trim: “We’ve had plenty of ‘left-field’ successes recently, like routing via Manila and Muscat with Oman Air (despite its proximity to Iran, Oman only rates a “Reconsider your need to travel” from Smartraveller) for under $6000 in business class, or using ANA to Paris with a stop in Tokyo for $7000. People are increasingly open to these options to keep costs down and some premium cabin travellers are looking for mixed-class fares, which are not offered by many airlines.”

Mixed-class fares are when you fly in different classes for different legs, for example, business class to Singapore, then economy class for the second leg to London.

In response to a request for current fares available, Trim supplied the following examples of return business class flights that have been booked with his agency in the past week.

• Oman Air to London via Manila/Muscat. One leg in economy Brisbane-Manila (codeshare with Philippine Airlines or Qantas), rest in business. $5900 for a late-April departure.
• ANA to Paris/Vienna ex-Sydney in early August to late August. $6500.
• Garuda/Turkish ex-Sydney via Bali and Istanbul to Paris. $7900.
• China Southern ex-Adelaide April 30. $10,600.
• Vietnam Airlines one way, China Southern the other. $7600 for May 20.
• China Airlines via Taipei ex-Melbourne for early June. $8900.

Commenting on the volatility of the current situation, Trim adds: “Just keep in mind, these fares don’t mean you’re necessarily going to get them in the next four to 10 weeks. It’s all about availability, with more reasonable fares opening up from mid-July to early September and mid-October to early December. Avoiding school holidays and peak season and at least a bit of booking notice is also key, the main point being you don’t have to spend $15,000 for a return business-class ticket with Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific.”

Tracking down these deals is not easy using online travel agents. Skyscanner won’t and neither will Google Flights. This is a case for a specialist travel agency.

Flexibility is key. Some of these low-cost business fares might require multiple stops rather than one, layovers of several hours, or adjusting an itinerary to travel on those days when prices drop. For those prepared to bend, as Trim’s evidence shows, you can fly in comfort without undue pocket pain.

What about flights via the US?

Travel to Europe via the US looks like a safe option, but you’ll pay a premium since there’s less competition on that route. A return economy flight from Melbourne or Sydney to London via the US in May starts at about $2600. Departing at the beginning of July, returning at the end of the month, that same flight will cost close to $4000, and for a return flight in September the price is back at $2600. A return business class flight on the US route with American Airlines in July starts at $12,664, and in September with United $13,551.

The bottom line

Getting to Europe in 2026 is more complicated than it was a year ago, and more expensive in some cases, but for the flexible and the patient, there are good deals to be had. For the time being, the Gulf State carriers are best avoided unless you have a back-up plan. If business class is your goal, talk to a specialist rather than relying on the usual booking engines.