As a result of the ongoing situation in the Middle East many flights to and from the region are cancelled.
We advise passengers to check the latest travel advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
- Passengers currently abroad who are unable to travel home should contact their airline for guidance on the support and assistance available.
- Passengers travelling to the Middle East area are advised to regularly check with their airline before leaving for the airport.
Guidance to passengers facing disruption due to the situation in the Middle East
Many passengers are currently facing disruption travelling between the Middle East and the UK as a result of the current situation in the region.
When flights are delayed and cancelled, we expect airlines to minimise the overall impact on you by keeping you informed and looking after you.
Air Passenger Rights
In many cases passengers will be protected by rights which are set out in UK legislation. However, rights of passengers facing disruption vary depending on the departure location and the airline which was due to operate the disrupted flight.
The table below provides guidance on whether your flight is covered by UK legislation:
|
Flight Itinerary |
Flight operated by UK or EU Air Carrier |
Flight operated by Non-UK /non-EU Air Carrier |
|
Arriving in the UK |
Covered |
Not Covered |
|
|
|
|
|
Departing from the UK |
Covered |
Covered |
Whether these rights apply or not, we encourage airlines to do all they can to minimise the overall impact to their passengers.
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
Arriving in the UK
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 passenger rights legislation and you still wish to travel, your airline will be required by law to get you home and look after you while you wait by providing meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation proportionate to the length of time you are delayed.
To get you home your airline is required to find you an alternative flight (referred to as “re-routing”). Re-routing should be at the earliest opportunity or at a later date at your convenience, subject to availability.
Unfortunately, it may be challenging for airlines to offer re-routing 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 home as quickly as any of us would like. Nevertheless, we expect your airline to do all it can to offer you an alternative flight and keep you updated.
If your airline is unable to proactively offer you care, or offer suitable replacement flights, 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 passenger rights legislation and has been cancelled, you have the option of receiving a refund if you no longer wish to travel. 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.
Departing from the UK
All flights departing from the UK are covered by UK passenger rights legislation. This means that airlines are 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 i has been cancelled you have the option of receiving a refund if you no longer wish to travel. 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 get you to your destination and look after you while you wait by providing meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation proportionate to the length of time you are delayed.
To get you to your destination your airline is required to find you an alternative flight (referred to as “re-routing”). Re-routing should be at the earliest opportunity or at a later date at your convenience, subject to availability.
Unfortunately, it may be challenging for airlines to offer re-routing during periods of major disruption, especially if the airport you were due to travel to has been closed at short notice. This may mean that your airline may not be able to get you home as quickly as any of us would like. Nevertheless, we expect your airline to do all it can to offer you an alternative flight and keep you updated.
If your airline is unable to proactively offer you care, or offer suitable replacement flights, 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 travel company must offer an alternative holiday if they can, or a refund for the full price of your package holiday.
Fixed sum compensation
Although we recognise the adverse impacts these delays and cancellations will have on passengers, the disruptions directly caused by the situation in the Middle East passengers are unlikely to be entitled to fixed sum compensation under UK passenger rights legislation for any delayed or cancellations experiences.
Under UK passenger rights legislation airlines are sometimes required to provide fixed sum compensation to passengers in certain circumstances. The disruptions directly caused by the situation in the Middle East is likely to be viewed as “extraordinary circumstances”. As a result, passengers are unlikely to be entitled to fixed sum compensation. Extraordinary circumstances do not affect your other entitlements to replacement flights and care set out above- these are 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. Different rights may apply to passengers arriving on flights to the UK operated by non-EU carriers such as many flights from the Dubai or Doha.