5 March ATIA CEO pushes back on 'cancel your Europe trip' headlines March 5, 2026 By Amanda Rixon Media Release 0 Reports suggesting Australians should cancel travel plans for the next six months are simply wrong. Etihad and Emirates are flying today. Asian carriers - Singapore Airlines, multiple Chinese carriers - are operating normally and providing reliable alternative routings to Europe. Yes, flight times may be slightly longer. No, you don't need to cancel your trip. With headlines telling Australians to cancel their travel plans, ATIA CEO Dean Long is available today to offer a grounded, expert counterpoint and reassure travellers that Europe is still very much on the table. Quotes from ATIA CEO Dean Long: "There are plenty of safe ways to get to Europe and the aviation sector has and will continue to adapt. Asia is open and operating. We have flights coming out of the Middle East. There will be some delays and a bit more disruption than what we're used to but no one in the travel industry is going to put you in a place where it's unsafe." “Importantly, do not cancel. Whether you are booked to travel in the next weeks or planning to travel in coming months. If you’re booked to go shortly via the Middle East, it is critical that you do not panic-cancel but rather wait for your airline to cancel as otherwise you are erasing all of your rights of a refund or rebook. If your trip is in the next couple of months, talk to your accredited travel agent or tour operator as there are plenty of alternates.” This is a situation the industry has navigated before. Twelve months ago, a 12-day conflict in the Middle East caused disruption and the travel industry resolved it quickly. FOR INTERVIEWS LJ Loch 0488 038 555 or lj.loch@atia.travel ATIA’s practical advice for travellers right now: Download your airline's app and check the Manage My Booking tab before heading to the airport to make sure your flight is actually going ahead Register with Smart Traveller https://www.smartraveller.gov.au If you're already in the Middle East and want to get home, register with DFAT now - Middle Eastern carriers are repatriating Australians with no additional charges If you’re booked to travel in the next few weeks, don’t Panic-Cancel. If you’re booked to travel in the next few months, talk to your accredited travel agent or tour operator as there are plenty of alternative routes Related Articles Travel has a new home – the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) The Australian Travel Industry has a new peak industry body representing travel agents and advisors, tour operators, consolidators and wholesalers replacing the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) effective today. New ATIA Directors welcomed at 47th AGM ATIA has successfully held its 47th AGM, with three new directors appointed at the meeting today for the FY25 Board. Three ATIA Members Can Win a Famil to Fukushima Courtesy of ATIA’s New Japanese Partnership The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has announced the first major initiative of its new corporate partnership with Japan’s Fukushima prefecture, offering three travel industry members the opportunity to join a hosted familiarisation trip to the region in November. ATIA Directors Drive National Response to Back Members Amid International Disruptions Monday 2 March 2026: All Directors of the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) have been actively engaged over the weekend, working alongside the executive leadership team to shape and steer a coordinated national response to escalating international aviation disruptions. ATIA Delivering for All Members, Including Travel Advisors - Multiple channels ensure every member group has a strong voice and tangible support The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has reaffirmed that everything it does is shaped by the voices of its members. From policy advocacy to accreditation to tailored industry support, ATIA ensures members’ perspectives directly guide priorities, decisions, and outcomes across the sector. ATIA unveils game-changing initiatives at inaugural Beyond Borders Summit The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has announced a series of landmark initiatives aimed at reshaping Australia’s travel sector at the first-ever Beyond Borders Summit in Sydney. Showing 0 Comment Comments are closed.