\n<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Scoot have\u00a0extended the cancellation of their Middle East flights, amid the intensifying war on Iran.<\/p>\n
In an update on Thursday (Mar 5), SIA said that flights SQ494 (Singapore-Dubai) and SQ495 (Dubai-Singapore) will be cancelled until March 15 due to the “geopolitical situation in the Middle East”.<\/span><\/p>\n Scoot said that flights TR596 (Singapore-Jeddah) and TR597 (Jeddah-Singapore) scheduled for Mar 9 and Mar 10 will be cancelled. The low-cost carrier runs flights to Jeddah four times a week.<\/span><\/p>\n The flights have been grounded since Feb 28.<\/span><\/p>\n “As the situation remains fluid, other SIA flights may be affected,” SIA said.<\/span><\/p>\n Affected customers will be reaccommodated on alternative flights. They can also opt to receive a full refund of the unused portion of their ticket, the airline said.<\/span><\/p>\n “Customers are also strongly advised to update their contact details via the manage booking function on our website or subscribe to a mobile notification service to receive updates to their flight status.”<\/span><\/p>\n As governments seek to repatriate their citizens, <\/span>limited flights out of the UAE<\/span> began this week, operated by long-haul carriers Etihad Airways and Emirates, based in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, respectively.<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>first flight<\/span> carrying Singapore residents stranded in the Middle East touched down on Thursday morning.<\/span><\/p>\n Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Gan Siow Huang said on Thursday that Singapore would <\/span>operate repatriation flights<\/span> out of Muscat, Oman on Saturday and Sunday.<\/span><\/p>\n About a quarter of Singaporeans who have e-registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) have sought help to return home since the conflict began, she said.<\/p>\n Acting Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim said on Thursday that he had <\/span>spoken with more than 40 Singaporean students<\/span> studying in countries such as Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to “check on their welfare, safety and well-being”.<\/span><\/p>\n