The first commercial flight from Dubai since the conflict in the Middle East began touched down in Auckland today.
Emirates has resumed its full New Zealand network of flights, as airspaces begin to reopen across the Middle East. It was initially closed after the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on February 28.
Emirates EK 448 arrived just before 11.30am Saturday, while a second flight was due to arrive in Christchurch later in the afternoon.
Travellers told 1News they were very glad to be back after airspace in the Middle East was closed when Iran launched strikes on US bases in several countries. (Source: 1News)
1News spoke to passengers as they arrived at Auckland Airport and were greeted by their loved ones.
Leonie Ramsay it was fantastic to be home – and husband David shared similar sentiment.
"It was kind of tense over there."
She said there were around 35 people on the plane, mostly because the flight was only confirmed several hours before take-off.
"I got up and it said 'pick a seat', so there I was."
For Rebecca Fleming and her kids, the return was bittersweet — as she had to leave her husband back in Dubai.
She had lived in the Middle East for 14 years.
"We did have missiles intercepted over our house, and its scary, to try to tell your children, to try to explain the situation."
But her and several other travellers said there wasn't much panic in Dubai.
"As much as it was scary, they handled it so well... there was no chaos," Fleming said.
Louise Uyle, who got stuck in Dubai for a few days travelling from Edinburgh, said some weren't taking much notice of missile threat alarms.
"Every hour or so the alarms were going off... and then I looked out my window and there were people sunbathing at the beachside below me."
Emirates flight Emirates EK 412 was scheduled to arrive in Christchurch via Sydney just after 2pm.
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