KUALA LUMPUR: Flights are cancelled, schedules are in chaos and scores of European tourists are still waiting to go home, three weeks after the United States and Israeli attack on Iran.
Some of them like retiree John Williams, 61, and his wife Gillian, 60, from the United Kingdom are making good use of their “extended” time in Malaysia.
“We’re sort of stranded, but frankly we are in no hurry. We are spending a few days in Penang and will explore other ways to get home later.
“We saw that others have flown back using unusual transit routes. We just hope things get better,” he added.
Their flight to London was cancelled on March 3 and despite daily checks on websites, e-mails and airline travel groups, they have yet to receive any update.
Businessman Billy Clifford is scheduled to fly to Paris next month via transit in Abu Dhabi.
But the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has left him worried that his flight might be affected.
“I’ve seen many passengers having their flights cancelled at short notice. I’m unsure whether to book hotels and train tickets now, as I fear a sudden cancellation will cause additional losses.
“Flight schedules seem quite unstable, and my attempts to contact the airline for a refund have not worked,” he said.
Families travelling with children have faced even greater stress.
Spanish Ambassador to Malaysia Jose Luis Pardo (pic) said a Spanish family with two children struggled to secure flights home as their 90-day visa-free stay in Malaysia neared its end.
He said the family arrived here well before the conflict started and despite holding confirmed bookings, their flights were repeatedly cancelled, forcing them to scramble for alternative routes.
With seats in short supply and ticket prices surging, they were caught in a cycle of uncertainty and “re-bookings”.
He said the family eventually resolved their travel documents through the Malaysian Immigration, which allowed them to extend their stay legally without direct embassy intervention.
“Embassies across the region, including in Thailand and Vietnam, are facing similar situations, where citizens sought help about travel disruptions,” he said, adding that the severity varied depending on flight connectivity.
He said the number of affected Spanish travellers in Malaysia at the start was about 200, based on those who contacted the embassy.
“This is not a case of repatriation, but a matter of return. They are impacted but not in danger, and are dealing with logistical challenges in getting home,” he said in an interview yesterday.
Luis Pardo said the disruptions stemmed from reduced air traffic through key Middle Eastern hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, which handle a large share of Europe-Asia travel.
“With fewer flights and limited seats, many travellers are forced to rebook multiple times, often at higher prices,” he said, adding that some bookings were cancelled just hours before departure.
In some cases, affected travellers had to seek alternative routes via India, China or Turkiye, while others opted to purchase new tickets altogether.
Despite the challenges, he said Malaysia remains a safe and comfortable country for visitors.
“If I must choose where to pass a crisis, I have no doubt – Malaysia,” he said, citing affordability, infrastructure and access to essential services.
The envoy said the disruptions were unlikely to have a lasting impact on Malaysia’s appeal.
“This situation has nothing to do with Malaysia. It is a temporary disruption, and tourism flows will recover,” he said, adding that many European visitors continue to view Malaysia positively and would recommend it to others.
The Polish Embassy estimated 70 of its nationals are still unable to leave Malaysia, saying the situation involved flight disruptions as several Gulf carriers had temporarily suspended operations.
An official said there were no government-organised evacuation flights from Malaysia, although Poland’s national carrier, LOT, arranged several commercial relief flights to destinations such as the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
“Some travellers also returned to Europe via other routes, including transit points in Pakistan, Kazakhstan, China, South Korea, Japan and India,” he said.
It added that several urgent medical cases were prioritised, with some Polish nationals departing Langkawi on chartered flights on March 6 and 13 to Warsaw, organised by a Polish tour operator.
A French diplomatic official here said more than 250 French nationals reported flight cancellations at the height of the disruption, with Malaysian authorities also highlighting cases involving French travellers.
The official said the number of requests has since declined, as many have managed to return home through their airlines or travel agencies.
The Italian Embassy said in the first week following the conflict, some 350 Italian tourists were in Malaysia, adding that it assisted dozens of its nationals secure alternative flights and manage extended stays caused by the disruptions.
