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Fran Lu

A honeymooning Chinese couple have been separated by the US-Israel strikes on Iran, which caused airspace closures across the Middle East and reportedly affected more than a million passengers.
The newlywed couple, from eastern China’s Zhejiang province, travelled to the Middle East on February 19 to enjoy its beautiful sunset scenery.
Doha was the last stop of their trip.

They exchanged their airline credits for business class tickets from Doha to Sydney as the husband, surnamed Yu, works in Melbourne. However, because of the airline’s policy, they did not get tickets for the same day.
The wife, surnamed Zheng, got a ticket for the 9am flight on February 28. Yu got a ticket for the same flight the next day.
The US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28.
Three major Middle East hubs, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, shut down their airports.
This reportedly caused 11,000 flights into, out of and within the Middle East to be cancelled, affecting more than a million passengers, according to the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

As the region is at the centre of long-haul routes, the airspace closures could also lead to rising fuel costs and fares.
Zheng luckily made the trip out of Doha, but her husband was stranded.
Yu said it would cost him 35,000 yuan (US$5,000) to reschedule to a closer date. It was both expensive and troublesome to change to other airlines.
He decided to change his flight to March 13 for free.

Yu stayed in a hotel in downtown Doha priced at 600 yuan (US$90) per night. He witnessed many missiles exploding in the air from where he stayed.
He said the hotel’s breakfast supply, which was included in the accommodation, was not affected. He could also order delivery food.
“It is the first time I realised that the war can be so close,” said Yu.
He reported his situation to his company, which told him to prioritise his own well-being.
Zheng said she was deeply worried about Yu’s safety.
China has advised its citizens to avoid travelling to Iran and the surrounding region that is affected by the air strikes. It has also evacuated more than 3,000 Chinese citizens from Iran, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Airline companies and travel agencies also launched plans to refund flight and hotel bookings in the region scheduled until mid-March.

On mainland social media, people expressed disbelief over the couple’s choice.
“This is the first time I have seen couples on their honeymoon fly on different days,” one said.
“Even when the situation is so tense, he still chooses money over his life,” said another.
Recently, a Chinese woman, with her mother and two children from eastern China’s Shandong province, reportedly spent 60,000 yuan (US$8,700), travelling for 50 hours from Dubai to Amman by road, then flew back to China via Dhaka.


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‘War can be so close’: China newlyweds separated by US strikes on Iran during Doha honeymoon

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A honeymooning couple from China were separated in Doha after Qatar closed its airspace following US strikes on Iran. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/X.com 

A missile lights up the night sky in Doha as conflict rages in the Middle East. Photo: QQ.com

Zheng displays the ticket she managed to get out of the war zone to Sydney, Australia. Photo: QQ.com

Zheng, above, and her new husband had been hoping for a romantic holiday with spectacular sunsets. Photo: QQ.com

Crowds thronged Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, above, as the scramble to leave unfolded. Photo: Weibo

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 Huan Cong with just two of the many cats he has looked after during the holiday period. Photo: Baidu

Among the array of services on offer is a healthy dose of playing time. Photo: Baidu

Over a period of more than 20 days before and after the festival, his team completed around 2,000 home-visit cat-feeding orders. Photo: Baidu

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Tan’s car, with the red banner showing, gets up a head of steam as he continues on his romantic mission. Photo: Douyin

Tan, who runs his own business, waves at the camera during a stop-off along the way. Photo: Douyin

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People & Culture

Stranded husband decides to save money, hassle by staying behind in conflict-hit city as wife flies out before region’s airports shut down


Stranded husband decides to save money, hassle by staying behind in conflict-hit city as wife flies out before region’s airports shut down.


US-Iran tensions

‘War can be so close’: China newlyweds separated by US strikes on Iran during Doha honeymoon

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Stranded husband decides to save money, hassle by staying behind in conflict-hit city as wife flies out before region’s airports shut down

Stranded husband decides to save money, hassle by staying behind in conflict-hit city as wife flies out before region’s airports shut down