Thousands of Flights Cancelled Amid Middle East Conflict – What Are Your Rights?

Passengers are facing severe travel disruption as thousands of flights have been cancelled due to rising conflict in the Middle East.

Major airlines, including Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways, suspended their operations, causing travel chaos for many.

An estimated 4,000 flights a day have been cancelled to countries across the Middle East, according to live air traffic tracker Flightradar24.

Although Emirates began running a limited number of flights on Monday 2 March, passengers are urged to check for updates with their airlines who should rebook them on the next available flights.

If your flight is cancelled when you are departing from a UK or EU airport, the airline has a duty to look after you.

That includes providing you with another flight or a refund, meals and accommodation if needed. Here’s what you need to know.

What are your rights if a flight is cancelled?

If your flight with a UK or EU airline is cancelled, the carrier must give you either a:
full refund (including other flights from the airline that you won’t be able to use in the same booking, such as return flights)
replacement flight to your destination

If you don’t want a replacement flight and are part-way through your journey, you have the right to a flight back to the airport you originally departed from.

You can ask for a refund or a replacement flight at the airport or by making a claim with the airline later.

What other costs are covered?
The airline should also cover the following:

• food and non-alcoholic drink (these are usually offered as vouchers)
• accommodation if you have to spend the night to fly another day
• transport to and from the accommodation
• a way for you to communicate and make calls

If the airline doesn’t offer vouchers or arrange accommodation and transport right away, keep hold of your receipts to claim back the costs from them later on.

You’re also entitled to the same expenses if your flight is delayed for a certain amount of time, as shown in the table below:

If your flight is with a non-UK or non-EU airline, you’ll have to check the rules with the local airline laws and policies to see what you’re entitled to.

Can you get compensation?
It’s unlikely that you’ll get extra compensation for delays and cancellations caused by things outside of the airline’s control, such as political or civil unrest.

However, airlines must prove that the cancellation falls under “extraordinary circumstances.”

If you think your cancellation or delay might qualify, it’s worth submitting a claim through your airline’s website or by contacting their customer service department.

If your claim is rejected, you can contact the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to investigate further and take action if the airline isn’t following the rules.

Can you claim using travel insurance?
Travel insurance could help you to recover costs if your flight is delayed or cancelled.

Depending on your policy, you might get a fixed sum to cover additional costs you incurred during the delay for things like food, non-alcoholic drinks and phone calls.

If the delay or cancellation results in you needing to abandon your trip, you might also be able to claim the cost of things like accommodation, activities and car hire.

It’s important to check the terms of a travel policy before buying to avoid being caught out by unexpected events.

It’s important to check the terms of a travel policy before buying to avoid being caught out by unexpected events.

If you’re concerned about an upcoming trip, keep an eye on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for updates.

The FCDO said that passengers should check its website before travelling to a destination in the Middle East.

Currently, British nationals in Bahrain, Palestine, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Israel can register their presence to receive direct updates and guidance from the Foreign Office.