Flight Cancellations Due to Iran Conflict Leave Foreign Nationals in Bali Scrambling for Alternative Routes Home
War between the United States, Israel, and Iran has impacted several international flights at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Badung, Bali. A number of passengers have expressed confusion and been forced to extend their stays in Bali without advance preparation.
One affected couple is Marlene and her husband, a Dutch pair on their honeymoon in Bali. They had planned to return home after several days of holiday enjoyment. However, the flight cancellation forced them to seek alternative travel routes, as their journey would require transit through Doha.
“We have already tried to find new flights around the Middle East. But those flights are very expensive and very long. So, we think we will be here for a few more days,” said Marlene on Monday (2 March 2026).
Marlene stated that she has approached Qatar Airways’ customer service to seek clarity. However, according to her, no concrete solutions have been offered.
“The only thing they said is that we have to find another flight. But they don’t provide options. They don’t have information. They don’t give us anything. So they’ve left us in the dark,” she explained.
Marlene also noted that the airline has not yet confirmed whether they will refund their money. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that the situation is also not easy for the airlines.
“I think this is difficult for them too because it’s war. Nobody really knows what will happen,” she added.
Similar circumstances have befallen Tyrah, a Kenyan tourist holidaying alone in Bali for 10 days. Her flight to Kenya, scheduled to depart today, was forced to be cancelled because the flight route required transit through Kuala Lumpur and Doha.
Tyrah has contacted the airline’s customer service. However, she has not received a solution beyond being asked to wait for further information.
“They just told me to keep checking their official Twitter page, and then see if the flight will be rescheduled. But they cannot give any guarantee. So I just have to wait and keep checking,” she replied.
Fortunately, Tyrah applied for a 30-day tourist visa, so her current accommodation still suffices. However, she now faces an accommodation problem as she lacks plans to extend her stay.
“As it turns out, I was given a 30-day visa and I was only staying for a week. So my visa is fine, but now the problem is accommodation,” she said.
To date, Tyrah has no definite plans and can only continue to wait and monitor information from the airline whilst hoping the situation improves soon.
“I don’t have a plan, just to manage the frustration and hope for the best. Waiting for information,” she concluded.