Safe or not? Surprising truth about Emirates, Qatar and Etihad during conflict

Australians are among thousands of travellers facing cancellations and delays as tensions in the Middle East force widespread airspace closures and temporary airport shutdowns across the region.

Three of the world's major aviation hubs connecting Europe and Africa with Asia and Australia - Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi - have suspended or limited operations during the conflict.

Although Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways initially halted services, some operations have now partially resumed.

AirlineRatings.com chief executive Sharon Peterson said that in situations such as the current Middle East tensions, the key concern is not the safety of the airlines themselves but the airspace they are required to fly through.

"The airlines themselves remain safe operators," she said. "It is the surrounding airspace that can become unsafe during periods of conflict."

Emirates and Qatar Airways remain among the world's safest airlines and continue to hold AirlineRatings' highest seven-star safety rating.

Etihad Airways - which was ranked the world's safest airline this year - is also the only carrier in the region to hold a Seven Star Plus safety rating, a distinction that will not be affected by the current geopolitical situation.

All three carriers received lower scores in passenger reviews, with Etihad rated 4.6 out of seven, Emirates scoring five out of seven and Qatar Airways receiving 5.7 out of seven.

Ms Peterson said while AirlineRatings may deduct safety stars for airlines operating in environments where there are significant political or environmental threats, the current situation does not change the underlying operational standards of the region's major carriers.

"This is very different from the situation seen during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where the airlines themselves were directly affected by sanctions rather than simply operating in a volatile region," she said.

"Russian aircraft, particularly Western built models such as Boeing and Airbus, faced serious safety challenges because sanctions prevented airlines from accessing spare parts and certified maintenance."

For travellers, however, the biggest challenge is the uncertainty surrounding how long the disruption will last.

"The frustrating part of this situation is that no one knows when it will end," Ms Peterson said.

"Volcanic eruptions can cause major disruptions across large regions, but you can usually estimate how long the impact will last. This situation could continue for months."