The UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait were among the six countries for which the FCDO issued a travel advice update. The alert follows airspace closures and the temporary cancellation of some flight routes in the Middle East.
“There is a possibility of travel disruption, including short-notice airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights, and other unanticipated travel impacts.”
Israel and Iran continue to exchange strikes after Israel began attacks on 13 June. Airspace in Israel, Iran, Iraq and Syria remains closed.
Bernard Lavelle, chief aviation consultant at BL Aviation Consulting, said airspace closures cause delays for passengers as airlines scramble to re-route their flights, which is likely to increase flight times.
Which airlines have cancelled flights?
Several airlines have cancelled or diverted routes in the region. Emirates has temporarily suspended all flights to Jordan (Amman) and Lebanon (Beirut), until and including 22 June and to Iran (Tehran) and Iraq (Baghdad and Basra), until and including 30 June.
Etihad has suspended all flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv until and including 30 June.
“The safety and security of our customers and crew remain our highest priority, and we will continue to assess the situation and provide updates on any further operational changes as necessary. We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused.”
“The likes of Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Oman Air, Kuwait Airways and Saudia have well over 20 flights a day criss-crossing that Iranian/Iraqi (and Syrian) airspace – similarly, British Airways and Virgin will also be impacted, too.”
Can I cancel my travel plans?
There are no new Foreign Office warnings against travel to the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia or Qatar. Britons who have booked a trip to these destinations but no longer wish to travel do not have a right to a refund under UK law. Should they wish to change the dates of their trip, they should contact their travel providers directly.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Flights that are outside of the EU or UK are not covered by these rights, although airlines should do what they can to care for passengers affected by delays.
For cancelled flights that are covered by UK law, airlines should offer a choice between a refund or an alternative flight. Compensation for cancellations with less than 14 days notice only applies when the cancellation is the airline’s fault
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