
Local airlines still operating flights to Mid-East despite escalating tensions
KUALA LUMPUR: All flights operated by local carriers to the Middle East were running as usual, despite the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.
Checks by the New Straits Times showed that all four Malaysia Airlines flights to Doha on Sunday went as scheduled and arrived at Hamad International Airport on time, with only one flight experiencing a one-hour delay.
As of press time, all four Malaysia Airlines flights to Doha today were also scheduled, with no announcements of potential delays.
Efforts by the NST to obtain comments from Malaysia Airlines on possible flight delays or cancellations in light of the Middle East conflict received no response.
It is learned that AirAsia flies to Jeddah and Madinah four to five times a week and has recorded no disruptions.
AirAsia X, however, said it was keeping tabs on the conflict.
"Air Asia X is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to follow all necessary safety procedures, as the safety of our guests and crew remains our utmost priority," it told the NST.
There were, however, delays to some flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to the Middle East on Sunday.
This ranged from 15 minutes to an hour and 55 minutes.
However, the delays from today to the gulf region did not exceed an hour.
In contrast, there were carriers in the Southeast Asian region that have taken steps to cancel flights heading to destinations in the Middle East.
Reuters reported that leading Asian carrier Singapore Airlines, which described the situation as "fluid", had cancelled flights to Dubai through to Tuesday, after initially cancelling only its Sunday services.
Meanwhile, Air France-KLM cancelled flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh on Sunday and Monday, while Finnair suspended its flights from Doha until at least Tuesday.
Kazakhstan's Air Astana also cancelled flights to Dubai on Monday.
However, some international airlines were expected to resume services.
Flightradar24 departure boards showed that British Airways was set to resume flights to Dubai and Doha today, after cancelling services to and from those airports on Sunday.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Malaysia Sun
an hour ago
- Malaysia Sun
Oil flip-flops, dollar firms after US hits Iran nuclear facilities
The dollar strengthened and oil prices pulled back from their early gains on Monday after the US struck Irans nuclear facilities at the weekend. Asian markets, however, retreated while European stocks were slightly higher as traders nervously awaited Irans response. Oil pricesgave up most of their early gains on Monday and the dollar strengthenedafter the United States struck Iran's nuclear facilities at the weekend. Asian marketsmostly retreated while European bourses were marginally higher as traders wait to see how Tehran could respond. Read moreIran vows US will 'receive a response' after strikes on nuclear sites "Everything hinges onIran's response and whether it's a symbolic jab or a haymaker that knocks theStrait of Hormuzoffline," said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management. One option on the table would be to potentially create economic havoc by seeking to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz -- which carries one-fifth of global oil output. Iran is the world's ninth-biggest oil-producing country, with output of about 3.3 million barrels per day. Itexportsjust under half of that amount and consumes the rest. Read more'Dangerous escalation': World leaders call for return to diplomacy after US strikes on Iran When trading opened on Monday, Brent and the main US crude contract WTI both jumped more than four percent to hit their highest price since January. They pared these gains however and briefly dipped into the red before recovering totradeslightly higher. "So far, satellite images reportedly suggest that oil continues to flow through the Strait, which may explain the muted market reaction to the news," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank. "Many remain optimistic that Iran will avoid a full-blown retaliation and regional chaos, to prevent its own oil facilities from becoming targets and to avoid a widening conflict that could hurtChinaits biggest oil customer." But "if things get uglier" the price of US crude could even spike beyond $100 per barrel, she said. WTI was trading around $74 per barrel on Monday. 'Extreme route' "An oil price shock would create a real negative impact on most Asian economies" as many are big net energy importers, economists at MUFG warned. Tokyo,Seoul, Sydney,Singapore, Taipei, Manila, Bangkok and Jakarta were all lower. Hong Kong, Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur were the only gainers in Asia. InEuropean marketsLondonand Frankfurt ticked marginally higher whilePariswas flat. Read moreRussia and China push for a ceasefire as UN Security Council meets on Iran The dollar rose against other currencies but analysts questioned to what extent this would hold out. "If the increase proves to be just a knee-jerk reaction to what is perceived as short-lived US involvement in the Middle-East conflict, the dollar's downward path is likely to resume," said Sebastian Boyd, markets live blog strategist at Bloomberg. Chris Weston at Pepperstone said Iran would be able to inflict economic damage on the world without taking the "extreme route" of trying to close the Strait of Hormuz. "By planting enough belief that they could disrupt this key logistical channel, maritime costs could rise to the point that it would have a significant impact on the supply of crude and gas," he wrote. At the same time, "while Trump's primary focus will be on theMiddle East, headlines on trade negotiations could soon start to roll in and market anxieties could feasibly build". Key figures at around 0900 GMT Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.2 percent at $77.14 per barrel WestTexasIntermediate: UP 0.1 percent at $73.94 per barrel Tokyo -Nikkei225: DOWN 0.1 percent at 38,354.09 (close) Hong Kong- Hang Seng Index: UP 0.7 percent at 23,689.13 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.7 percent at 3,381.58 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 8,800.5 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1458 from $1.1516 on Friday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3445 from $1.3444 Dollar/yen: UP at 147.94 yen from 146.13 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.65 pence from 85.66 pence New York- Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 42,206.82 (close) (FRANCE 24 with AFP) Originally published on France24


Malaysia Sun
an hour ago
- Malaysia Sun
Oil dips, dollar firms after US strikes in Iran
Oil prices gave up most of their early gains on Monday and the dollar strengthened after the United States struck Iran's nuclear facilities at the weekend. Asian markets mostly retreated while European bourses were marginally higher as traders wait to see how Tehran could respond. "Everything hinges on Iran's response -- and whether it's a symbolic jab or a haymaker that knocks the Strait of Hormuz offline," said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management. One option on the table would be to potentially create economic havoc by seeking to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz -- which carries one-fifth of global oil output. Iran is the world's ninth-biggest oil-producing country, with output of about 3.3 million barrels per day. It exports just under half of that amount and consumes the rest. When trading opened on Monday, Brent and the main US crude contract WTI both jumped more than four percent to hit their highest price since January. They pared these gains however and briefly dipped into the red before recovering to trade slightly higher. "So far, satellite images reportedly suggest that oil continues to flow through the Strait, which may explain the muted market reaction to the news," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank. "Many remain optimistic that Iran will avoid a full-blown retaliation and regional chaos, to prevent its own oil facilities from becoming targets and to avoid a widening conflict that could hurt China -- its biggest oil customer." But "if things get uglier" the price of US crude could even spike beyond $100 per barrel, she said. WTI was trading around $74 per barrel on Monday. 'Extreme route' "An oil price shock would create a real negative impact on most Asian economies" as many are big net energy importers, economists at MUFG warned. Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney, Singapore, Taipei, Manila, Bangkok and Jakarta were all lower. Hong Kong, Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur were the only gainers in Asia. In European markets London and Frankfurt ticked marginally higher while Paris was flat. The dollar rose against other currencies but analysts questioned to what extent this would hold out. "If the increase proves to be just a knee-jerk reaction to what is perceived as short-lived US involvement in the Middle-East conflict, the dollar's downward path is likely to resume," said Sebastian Boyd, markets live blog strategist at Bloomberg. Chris Weston at Pepperstone said Iran would be able to inflict economic damage on the world without taking the "extreme route" of trying to close the Strait of Hormuz. "By planting enough belief that they could disrupt this key logistical channel, maritime costs could rise to the point that it would have a significant impact on the supply of crude and gas," he wrote. At the same time, "while Trump's primary focus will be on the Middle East, headlines on trade negotiations could soon start to roll in and market anxieties could feasibly build". Key figures at around 0900 GMT Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.2 percent at $77.14 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.1 percent at $73.94 per barrel Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.1 percent at 38,354.09 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.7 percent at 23,689.13 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.7 percent at 3,381.58 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 8,800.5 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1458 from $1.1516 on Friday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3445 from $1.3444 Dollar/yen: UP at 147.94 yen from 146.13 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.65 pence from 85.66 pence New York - Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 42,206.82 (close) Originally published on France24


Malaysia Sun
an hour ago
- Malaysia Sun
Oil flip-flops, dollar firms after US hits Iran nuclear sites
The dollar strengthened and oil prices pulled back from their early gains on Monday after the US struck Irans nuclear facilities at the weekend. Asian markets, however, retreated while European stocks were slightly higher as traders nervously awaited Irans response. Oil pricesgave up most of their early gains on Monday and the dollar strengthenedafter the United States struck Iran's nuclear facilities at the weekend. Asian marketsmostly retreated while European bourses were marginally higher as traders wait to see how Tehran could respond. Read moreIran vows US will 'receive a response' after strikes on nuclear sites "Everything hinges onIran's response and whether it's a symbolic jab or a haymaker that knocks theStrait of Hormuzoffline," said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management. One option on the table would be to potentially create economic havoc by seeking to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz -- which carries one-fifth of global oil output. Iran is the world's ninth-biggest oil-producing country, with output of about 3.3 million barrels per day. Itexportsjust under half of that amount and consumes the rest. Read more'Dangerous escalation': World leaders call for return to diplomacy after US strikes on Iran When trading opened on Monday, Brent and the main US crude contract WTI both jumped more than four percent to hit their highest price since January. They pared these gains however and briefly dipped into the red before recovering totradeslightly higher. "So far, satellite images reportedly suggest that oil continues to flow through the Strait, which may explain the muted market reaction to the news," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank. "Many remain optimistic that Iran will avoid a full-blown retaliation and regional chaos, to prevent its own oil facilities from becoming targets and to avoid a widening conflict that could hurtChinaits biggest oil customer." But "if things get uglier" the price of US crude could even spike beyond $100 per barrel, she said. WTI was trading around $74 per barrel on Monday. 'Extreme route' "An oil price shock would create a real negative impact on most Asian economies" as many are big net energy importers, economists at MUFG warned. Tokyo,Seoul, Sydney,Singapore, Taipei, Manila, Bangkok and Jakarta were all lower. Hong Kong, Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur were the only gainers in Asia. InEuropean marketsLondonand Frankfurt ticked marginally higher whilePariswas flat. Read moreRussia and China push for a ceasefire as UN Security Council meets on Iran The dollar rose against other currencies but analysts questioned to what extent this would hold out. "If the increase proves to be just a knee-jerk reaction to what is perceived as short-lived US involvement in the Middle-East conflict, the dollar's downward path is likely to resume," said Sebastian Boyd, markets live blog strategist at Bloomberg. Chris Weston at Pepperstone said Iran would be able to inflict economic damage on the world without taking the "extreme route" of trying to close the Strait of Hormuz. "By planting enough belief that they could disrupt this key logistical channel, maritime costs could rise to the point that it would have a significant impact on the supply of crude and gas," he wrote. At the same time, "while Trump's primary focus will be on theMiddle East, headlines on trade negotiations could soon start to roll in and market anxieties could feasibly build". Key figures at around 0900 GMT Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.2 percent at $77.14 per barrel WestTexasIntermediate: UP 0.1 percent at $73.94 per barrel Tokyo -Nikkei225: DOWN 0.1 percent at 38,354.09 (close) Hong Kong- Hang Seng Index: UP 0.7 percent at 23,689.13 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.7 percent at 3,381.58 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 8,800.5 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1458 from $1.1516 on Friday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3445 from $1.3444 Dollar/yen: UP at 147.94 yen from 146.13 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.65 pence from 85.66 pence New York- Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 42,206.82 (close) (FRANCE 24 with AFP) Originally published on France24