According to Reuters South Africans stranded in the UAE have faced prolonged uncertainty after regional airspace closures followed strikes linked to Iran, leaving many unable to return home, reports Cape {town} Etc.
The Airports Company South Africa confirmed that flights operated by Emirates and Qatar Airways were affected, and advised passengers to contact carriers for updates (SANews).
Emirates temporarily suspended operations to and from Dubai and urged customers to rebook or request refunds via its support portal. ‘We apologise to customers affected by disruptions for any inconvenience caused,’ the carrier said.
The Department of International Relations and Co-operation says it is in touch with South Africans in the Gulf and monitoring the situation, while officials urge nationals to register with consular services if they need assistance.
Passengers described chaos at transit hubs as flights were cancelled and airports closed, with one traveller saying: ‘We still have students that went there earlier and they are stuck in Dubai and we do not know when they will get home.’
Travellers are advised to check airline pages and airport notices before travelling to terminals and to keep contact details up to date for rebooking alerts.
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