Massive update to Middle East travel advice for Aussies
Travel restrictions have been downgraded to multiple countries in the Middle East following a tentative peace deal between the US and Iran.
Travel warnings for Australians have been downgraded for several countries in the Middle East.
Advice for travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, Israel, Qatar and the UAE was lowered from the highest level of level four restrictions – do not travel – to level three – reconsider your need to travel.
The downgrade follows the US and Iran tentatively agreeing to a peace deal for the conflict in the Middle East, which is due to be formally agreed to on Friday in Switzerland.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the current conditions in parts of the region meant it was appropriate for the do-not-travel warning to be lifted.
“Level three remains a high threshold. We continue to urge Australians to postpone non-essential travel,” she said in a statement.
“Reconsider your need to travel also means reconsider your need to transit. If you need to transit these locations, stay as short a time as possible and eliminate unnecessary activities.”
A do-not-travel warning is still in effect for parts of Israel, as well as Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen.
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Level four travel warnings meant travel insurance was often voided for Australian travellers flying overseas via the Middle East.
The do-not-travel warning was issued following the outbreak of the conflict in late February, with airports in the region being closed due to the threat of missiles.
Israel’s ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman said the country supported the peace agreement between Iran and the US.
However, he said Israeli strikes against Lebanon would continue.
“Our operations in southern Lebanon are entirely for our defence,” he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
“We’re trying to just bring defence and security to our people. If we have security, we will not continue our activities in southern Lebanon.”
The strikes from Israel and Lebanon have raised fears the peace deal could fall apart.
However, US President Donald Trump said the war between Israel and Lebanon was a minor one and the peace deal would be able to survive.
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Meanwhile, an Australian-based global travel leader hopes to get an earnings tailwind from a peace deal between the US and Iran going into the new year.
The developments appear to be a positive sign for Flight Centre Travel Group, which on Wednesday downgraded its earnings for the current financial year due to the Middle East conflict.
The company, which operates in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the UK, now expects an underlying profit before tax between $275 million and $295 million for 2025/26.
It had previously forecast an underlying result between $310 million and $345 million, compared to the prior year’s $286 million result.
“It has been driven by an external shock – the Middle East conflict disrupting peak leisure travel – not by a deterioration in our underlying business,” managing director Graham Turner said in a statement to the stock exchange.
Flight Centre said the conflict mostly affected its fourth quarter leisure travel market, with earnings expected to fall by about $50 million.
It cited cancellations and booking deferrals, weaker long-haul bookings and a shift to lower-margin routes.
“Even after absorbing Q4 disruption, the group still expects an underlying profit broadly in line with FY25,” Turner said.
Flight Centre said the new peace deal between the US and Iran will give it a clearer runway into 2026/27 and a “significant earnings tailwind”.
Flight Centre also announced an up to $200 million on-market share buyback, after its last one was completed in May.
Turner said the buyback reflects the company’s view that it believes its shares, which closed on Tuesday at $11.81, are undervalued.
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