The war between Iran and Israel is now rerouting travelers who never intended to go near it. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have pulled major long-haul routes, and the disruption is reaching economies as far away as Sri Lanka. [1]
British Airways has cut the widest swath. The carrier suspended flights to Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Tel Aviv, and dropped its London-to-Jeddah service, according to Al Jazeera's reporting. [1]
Virgin Atlantic has trimmed its own map. The airline suspended its London-to-Dubai route, removing one of the busier links between Britain and the Gulf. [1]
The ripple runs past the flight boards. Sri Lanka, which depends heavily on foreign visitors, has seen tourism fall by 20 to 30 percent as travelers avoid the wider region, according to the reporting. [1]
The cost lands on people with no stake in the fighting. A Sri Lankan hotel worker or tour guide loses income when arrivals drop by a fifth or more, and Gulf-bound passengers lose routes their airlines will restore only when the risk clears. The routes vanished because of the conflict, not for lack of demand, which means their return depends on the fighting rather than on ticket sales. [1]
