Many passengers are currently facing disruption travelling between the Middle East, Cyprus and the UK as a result of the current situation in the Middle East. We appreciate that this is a time of uncertainty for those who were due to travel but are now facing disruption, particularly those who are trying to get home.
Air Passenger Rights
The rights of passengers facing disruption vary depending on the departure location and the airline which was due to operate the disrupted flight. In many cases passengers will be protected by rights which are set out in UK and European legislation.
The table below provides guidance on whether your flight is covered by UK and/or European legislation:
Flight itinerary |
Flight operated by UK or EU air carrier |
Flight operated by non-UK / non-EU air carrier |
| Departing from the UK | covered | covered |
| Arriving in the UK from outside Europe | covered | not covered |
| Arriving in the UK from inside Europe | covered | covered |
Whether these rights apply or not, we encourage airlines to do all they can to minimise the overall impact on their passengers by keeping them informed and looking after them.
We advise all passengers to check FCDO travel advice and confirm their flight status with their airline ahead of travelling to the airport: Foreign travel advice - GOV.UK
More details as to what protections are provided by UK and/or European passenger rights legislation are provided below:
Flights due to arrive in the UK from outside Europe
Different rights apply if your airline is not an UK or EU carrier. Please speak to your airline or check its website for more information about your rights.
If you still wish to travel: If your flight is covered by UK or European passenger rights legislation your airline is required by law to offer you a replacement flight.
This replacement flight (referred to as “re-routing”) should be at the earliest opportunity or at a later date at your convenience, subject to availability. However, offering re-routing at the earliest opportunity may be challenging for airlines during periods of major disruption, especially when an airport is closed at short notice. This may mean that your airline may not be able to get you to your destination as quickly as any of us would like. Nevertheless, we expect your airline to do all it can to offer you a replacement flight and keep you updated.
Your airline is also required to look after you while you wait for your replacement flight by providing meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation proportionate to the length of time you are delayed.
If your airline is unable to proactively offer you care, or offer a suitable replacement flight, we expect it to promptly reimburse you for the reasonable costs you incur making your own arrangements. Make sure you keep receipts and avoid incurring excessive costs.
If you no longer wish to travel: If your flight is covered by UK or European passenger rights legislation and has been cancelled you do not need to travel and can ask for a refund instead. If you chose this option, you will need to confirm this with your airline. The airline should provide you with a refund within seven days.
Flights due to arrive in the UK from inside Europe
If you still wish to travel: Your airline is required by law to offer you a replacement flight.
This replacement flight (referred to as “re-routing”) should be at the earliest opportunity or at a later date at your convenience, subject to availability. However, offering re-routing at the earliest opportunity may be challenging for airlines during periods of major disruption, especially when an airport is closed at short notice. This may mean that your airline may not be able to get you to your destination as quickly as any of us would like. Nevertheless, we expect your airline to do all it can to offer you a replacement flight and keep you updated.
Your airline is also required to look after you while you wait for your replacement flight by providing meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation proportionate to the length of time you are delayed.
If your airline is unable to proactively offer you care, or offer a suitable replacement flight, we expect it to promptly reimburse you for the reasonable costs you incur making your own arrangements. Make sure you keep receipts and avoid incurring excessive costs.
If you no longer wish to travel: If your flight has been cancelled you do not need to travel and can ask for a refund instead. If you chose this option, you will need to confirm this with your airline. The airline should provide you with a refund within seven days.
Flights due to depart from the UK
All flights departing from the UK are covered by UK passenger rights legislation. This means that if your flight is cancelled your airline is required by law to get you to your destination or provide you with a refund if you no longer wish to travel.
If you no longer wish to travel: If your flight has been cancelled you do not need to travel and can ask for a refund instead. If you chose this option, you will need to confirm this with your airline. The airline should provide you with a refund within 7 days.
If you still wish to travel: Your airline is required by law to offer you a replacement flight.
This replacement flight (referred to as “re-routing”) should be at the earliest opportunity or at a later date at your convenience, subject to availability. However, offering re-routing at the earliest opportunity may be challenging for airlines during periods of major disruption, especially when an airport is closed at short notice. This may mean that your airline may not be able to get you to your destination as quickly as any of us would like. Nevertheless, we expect your airline to do all it can to offer you a replacement flight and keep you updated.
Your airline is also required to look after you while you wait for your replacement flight by providing meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation proportionate to the length of time you are delayed.
If your airline is unable to proactively offer you care, or offer a suitable replacement flight, we expect it to promptly reimburse you for the reasonable costs you incur making your own arrangements. Make sure you keep receipts and avoid incurring excessive costs.
If you are travelling on a package holiday
If you booked a package holiday, you may also benefit from additional rights, particularly if this means that your original package cannot be provided. If flight delays or cancellations lead to your holiday being cancelled, or new arrangements are made that result in a significant change to your holiday, then your package travel organiser must offer an alternative holiday if they can, or a refund for the full price of your package holiday.
Fixed sum compensation for flight delays and cancellations
Passengers experiencing disruptions directly caused by the situation in the Middle East are unlikely to be entitled to fixed sum compensation under either UK or European passenger rights legislation. Under these airlines are sometimes required to provide fixed sum compensation to passengers in certain circumstances. Although we recognise the adverse impacts delays and cancellations will have on passengers, passengers are unlikely to be entitled to fixed sum compensation. This is because disruption directly caused by the situation in the Middle East is likely to be viewed as an “extraordinary circumstance”. Extraordinary circumstances do not affect your other passenger rights entitlements to replacement flights and care set out above. These rights apply due regardless of the cause of your delay or cancellation.
Notes:
The Civil Aviation Authority’s interpretation of extraordinary circumstances is illustrative and for guidance only, rather than determinative of our view in any specific case that may arise. Each case will be context and fact specific. This does not mean that a passenger or group of passengers cannot try and claim compensation, including through the courts, if they disagree with our interpretation.
The protections set out above are based 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. Similar protections apply under EU Regulation 261/2004.
Different rights may apply to passengers arriving on flights to the UK operated by non-UK and EU carriers such as many flights from the Dubai or Doha.