When business travel plans shift, having reliable alternatives matters. For many organisations, avoiding routings through the Middle East has become a priority — whether due to risk management policies, traveller preference, or operational considerations.
In fact, our recent SME Travel Survey revealed that more than a quarter of businesses are actively avoiding certain regions or routes, with 55% now less willing to send their employees to the Middle East.
The good news is that there are still plenty of efficient, comfortable and well-connected options to keep your people moving seamlessly across the globe.
Here’s a closer look at smart rerouting strategies that maintain productivity without compromising on traveller experience.
India remains one of the easiest regions to access directly from the UK without relying on Middle Eastern hubs.
British Airways offers extensive non-stop services from London Heathrow to key cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. Virgin Atlantic complements this with direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Air India adds further flexibility, operating from multiple UK airports:
London Heathrow to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru
London Gatwick to Ahmedabad and Amritsar
Birmingham to Delhi and Amritsar
These options provide strong coverage across both business and regional destinations, all without the need for transit stops.
For travel into China, British Airways maintains direct routes from London Heathrow to both Beijing and Shanghai—ideal for keeping journey times predictable.
Hong Kong is equally well served, with both Cathay Pacific and British Airways offering direct flights from Heathrow. Cathay Pacific also operates from Manchester, opening up convenient options for travellers outside London.
Southeast Asia is highly accessible via direct long-haul services and strategic hub connections.
Virgin Atlantic operates direct routes to Seoul and Phuket from London Heathrow, offering straightforward access to key markets and regional hubs.
Singapore Airlines stands out as a major gateway carrier, with direct flights from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester into Singapore. From there, travellers can easily connect onward to Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and beyond.
Similarly:
Malaysia Airlines offers direct flights to Kuala Lumpur
Thai Airways operates direct services to Bangkok
Both provide extensive onward connectivity across Asia, often with smooth transfer experiences and strong service standards.
Australia can still be reached comfortably without Middle Eastern stopovers.
Qantas operates a direct flight from London Heathrow to Perth, one of the longest non-stop routes in the world, removing the need for transit altogether. For other major cities — Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane — Qantas offers one-stop services via Singapore.
Additional routing options are available through carriers such as Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Thai Airways, all of which provide onward connections from their Asian hubs.
New Zealand itineraries typically involve at least one connection, but there are several strong alternatives that avoid the Middle East.
Air New Zealand works in partnership with other global carriers to route passengers via North America or Asia. In addition, airlines like Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Thai Airways offer reliable one- or two-stop options into major New Zealand cities.
For travellers departing from regional UK airports, European hubs can unlock even more routing flexibility.
For example:
KLM via Amsterdam
Air France via Paris
Lufthansa via Frankfurt or Munich
These hubs offer extensive global networks, often with short connection times and frequent departures. They can be particularly useful for building efficient itineraries that avoid congested or restricted airspace.
If your organisation is reviewing travel policies or looking for smarter routing options, Travel Counsellors for Business can help you navigate the alternatives with ease. From tailored itineraries to proactive risk management and 24/7 support, we ensure your people travel with confidence — wherever business takes them.
Get in touch with Travel Counsellors for Business today to build a safer, more flexible travel strategy for your team.
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