economy
March 10, 2026
Cathay Pacific offers £20,000 Sydney-London flight amid disruption in Gulf
Hong Kong-based airline has business-class return listed at A$39,577, as travellers seek routes avoiding Middle East
TL;DR
- Cathay Pacific is selling Sydney to London business class return tickets for over £20,000 in April.
- The US-Israel war on Iran has led to the closure of critical Middle Eastern airspace, disrupting flights.
- Major Gulf carriers like Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways have limited operations.
- Alternative long-haul routes via Singapore, Hong Kong, or Malaysia have limited capacity.
- Economy flights via the Gulf are priced around £1,100 return, but are uncertain.
- Typical business class fares for UK-Australia routes are £3,000-£4,000.
- Cathay Pacific's high fares reflect a short-term supply-demand imbalance.
- The airline plans to operate extra flights to London and Zurich to meet demand.
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