Middle East – Passenger journey recommendation – 1 March 2026

As a results of the continued scenario within the Middle East many flights to and from the area are cancelled.

We advise passengers to examine the most recent journey recommendation from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. 

• Passengers at present overseas who’re unable to journey dwelling ought to contact their airline for steerage on the help and help accessible.
• Passengers travelling to the Middle East space are suggested to repeatedly examine with their airline earlier than leaving for the airport.

Guidance to passengers dealing with disruption because of the scenario within the Middle East

Many passengers are at present dealing with disruption travelling between the Middle East and the UK because of the present scenario within the area.

When flights are delayed and cancelled, we count on airways to minimise the general impression on you by preserving you knowledgeable and taking care of you.

Air Passenger Rights

In many instances passengers shall be protected by rights that are set out in UK laws. However, rights of passengers dealing with disruption fluctuate relying on the departure location and the airline which was attributable to function the disrupted flight.  

The desk under gives steerage on whether or not your flight is roofed by UK laws:

Whether these rights apply or not, we encourage airways to do all they’ll to minimise the general impression to their passengers. 

We advise all passengers to examine FCDO journey recommendation and ensure their flight standing with their airline forward of travelling to the airport: Foreign travel advice – GOV.UK

Arriving within the UK

Different rights apply in case your airline is just not an UK or EU provider.  Please communicate to your airline or examine its web site for extra details about your rights.

If you continue to want to journey: If your flight is roofed by UK passenger rights laws and you continue to want to journey, your airline shall be required by regulation to get you dwelling and take care of you whilst you wait by offering meals, refreshments and resort lodging proportionate to the size of time you’re delayed. 

To get you dwelling your airline is required to search out you an alternate flight (known as “re-routing”).  Re-routing ought to be on the earliest alternative or at a later date at your comfort, topic to availability.

Unfortunately, it could be difficult for airways to supply re-routing during times of main disruption, particularly when an airport is closed at quick discover.   This could imply that your airline could not be capable to get you dwelling as rapidly as any of us would really like.  Nevertheless, we count on your airline to do all it might probably to give you an alternate flight and maintain you up to date. 

If your airline is unable to proactively give you care, or supply appropriate substitute flights, we count on it to promptly reimburse you for the cheap prices you incur making your individual preparations.  Make positive you retain receipts and keep away from incurring extreme prices.

If you now not want to journey: : If your flight is roofed by UK passenger rights laws and has been cancelled, you could have the choice of receiving a refund for those who now not want to journey. If you selected this selection you’ll need to verify this together with your airline. The airline ought to give you a refund inside 7 days.

Departing from the UK

All flights departing from the UK are lined by UK passenger rights laws. This signifies that airways are required by regulation to get you to your vacation spot or give you a refund for those who now not want to journey.

If you now not want to journey: If your flight i has been cancelled you could have the choice of receiving a refund for those who now not want to journey. If you selected this selection you’ll need to verify this together with your airline. The airline ought to give you a refund inside 7 days.

If you continue to want to journey: Your airline is required by regulation to get you to your vacation spot and take care of you whilst you wait by offering meals, refreshments and resort lodging proportionate to the size of time you’re delayed. 

To get you to your vacation spot your airline is required to search out you an alternate flight (known as “re-routing”).  Re-routing ought to be on the earliest alternative or at a later date at your comfort, topic to availability. 

Unfortunately, it could be difficult for airways to supply re-routing during times of main disruption, particularly if the airport you had been attributable to journey to has been closed at quick discover.  This could imply that your airline could not be capable to get you dwelling as rapidly as any of us would really like.  Nevertheless, we count on your airline to do all it might probably to give you an alternate flight and maintain you up to date.

If your airline is unable to proactively give you care, or supply appropriate substitute flights, we count on it to promptly reimburse you for the cheap prices you incur making your individual preparations.  Make positive you retain receipts and keep away from incurring extreme prices. 

If you’re travelling on a bundle vacation

If you booked a bundle vacation, you might also profit from extra rights, notably if which means that your authentic bundle can’t be offered.   If flight delays or cancellations result in your vacation being cancelled, or new preparations are made that lead to a major change to your vacation, then your journey firm should supply an alternate vacation if they’ll, or a refund for the complete worth of your bundle vacation. 

Fixed sum compensation

Although we recognise the hostile impacts these delays and cancellations could have on passengers, the disruptions immediately brought on by the scenario within the Middle East passengers are unlikely to be entitled to mounted sum compensation beneath UK passenger rights laws for any delayed or cancellations experiences.

Under UK passenger rights laws airways are typically required to supply mounted sum compensation to passengers in sure circumstances.  The disruptions immediately brought on by the scenario within the Middle East is prone to be considered as “extraordinary circumstances”.  As a consequence, passengers are unlikely to be entitled to mounted sum compensation.    Extraordinary circumstances don’t have an effect on your different entitlements to substitute flights and care set out above- these are due no matter the reason for your delay or cancellation.

Notes

The Civil Aviation Authority’s interpretation of extraordinary circumstances is illustrative and for steerage solely, relatively than determinative of our view in any particular case that will come up. Each case shall be context and truth particular. This doesn’t imply {that a} passenger or group of passengers can’t try to declare compensation, together with by way of the courts, in the event that they disagree with our interpretation. 

The protections set out above are based mostly on Assimilated Regulation 261/2004 which collectively apply to all flights departing from the UK, and flights arriving into the UK on UK and EU carriers. Different rights could apply to passengers arriving on flights to the UK operated by non-EU carriers similar to many flights from the Dubai or Doha.