The Iran war has brought disruptions – and new opportunities – for meetings and incentives in the region.

More than two weeks into the Iran–US conflict, limited air capacity on major East–West connecting carriers – Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad – and surging airfares between Europe and the Far East have become the most pressing challenges for travel and event professionals.

With longhaul ticket prices soaring – fares on direct Europe-Asia routes have risen by nearly 300%, according to new analysis by FlightsFinder.com – event planners have been scrambling to secure seats amid capacity constraints.

A return economy ticket to Barcelona that used to cost around MYR3,700 (US$939) is now closer to MYR12,000, noted Francis Cheong, group CEO of Aavaii Worldwide in Malaysia.

Although all of his longhaul incentive programmes to Poland, Zurich and Barcelona scheduled between March and May are still going ahead, Cheong said planners have had to make major routing adjustments. Groups are switching to airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines, while avoiding carriers that connect through the Middle East.

But not all corporates are comfortable proceeding.

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