Some tourists in Malaysia make most of Mideast flight mess as others scramble to get home

2026.03.20 04:50 An Instagrammable spot in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: Facebook/malaysia.travel.my 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,” Williams said. “We saw that others have flown back using unusual transit routes. We just hope things get better.” Their flight to London was cancelled on March 3, and despite daily checks on websites, emails 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,” he said. “Flight schedules seem quite unstable, and my attempts to contact the airline for a refund have not worked.” Families travelling with children have faced even greater stress. Foreign tourists and murals at Chew Jetty in Penang, Malaysia. Photo: Ivy Ong Spanish Ambassador to Malaysia Jose Luis Pardo 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 in Kuala Lumpur 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 “rebookings”. He sai

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