US-Iran strikes: What flight cancellations and Middle East airspace closures imply for passengers’ rights | EUROtoday

Hundreds of hundreds of airline passengers have had their journey plans thrown into disarray as airspace within the Middle East was closed to flights following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Cancellations and diversions started after a “major combat operation” was confirmed by Donald Trump on Saturday morning.

Iran and Iraq closed their airspaces in response to the escalating motion, which has seen explosions throughout the Middle East. Soon afterwards, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to different Gulf areas, additionally grounded flights.

Dubai International Airport, the largest world hub, closed to arrivals and departures shortly earlier than 12 midday GMT. On a typical day, round 1 / 4 of one million passengers fly out and in of “DXB”.

The primary airline at Dubai, Emirates, mentioned it had quickly suspended operations “due to multiple regional airspace closures” and the enormous Gulf service Qatar Airways has suspended all flights to and from its hub in Doha.

Dozens of flights have been diverted or returned to their beginning factors.

These are the important thing questions and solutions about passengers’ rights.

How widespread is the disruption to this point?

The unfolding image signifies that this would be the most extreme disruption to aviation within the area because the Covid pandemic.

While Qatar skilled a short lived closure in June 2025 following a US-Iran conflict, the added closure of Dubai signifies that lots of extra flights are cancelled.

Passenger Mike Boreham had his British Airways flight from Dubai to Heathrow cancelled because the totally laden plane was on the purpose of departure. Speaking from contained in the airport terminal, he mentioned: “It’s chaos right here, simply think about 100 flights getting off without delay. It’s lots of of individuals, I’ve by no means seen the airport prefer it.”

With each hour that the closures proceed, many hundreds extra passengers are affected.

What are passengers’ rights?

Under UK and EU air passengers’ rights laws, anybody beginning their journey in Europe is in a robust place.

Stuck in Dubai or Doha? Under air passengers’ rights guidelines, you have to be supplied with a lodge and meals till you might be flown out. However, given the sheer weight of numbers, it could be that passengers are advised to fend for themselves and later declare the price of lodging and meals

Not but left Britain? Passengers booked from UK airports on Emirates or Qatar Airways through Dubai or Doha to Asia, Australasia or Africa are entitled to be flown to their vacation spot as quickly as attainable by any service that has seats obtainable.

Airlines flying continuous to Asian and African locations, similar to Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Ethiopian Airlines, might present different routes.

What if I’m flying residence – so my journey started exterior Europe?

If you’re booked on a non-European airline from an airport exterior the EU and UK? You haven’t any such rights.

While Emirates and Qatar Airways will do their finest to get passengers the place they must be and supply lodging the place attainable whereas they’re ready, there isn’t a authorized obligation for them to take action.

Travel insurance coverage could assist with some out-of-pocket bills and a modest cost for lengthy delays.

Is there wider disruption?

Yes. Many flights that might usually use Iranian or Iraqi airspace are taking huge diversions, including to journey occasions. There will even be knock-on delays in consequence, and a few flights could must make refuelling stops due to the longer routes. All of this provides as much as persevering with disruption.

When airspace reopens, how rapidly will issues be again to regular?

Even when flights resume, there’s prone to be widespread disruption because of plane and crew being out of place.

Airlines, together with Emirates and Qatar Airways, are working at full stretch, so even when the schedule is again on observe, it can actually be days, and probably weeks, earlier than some stranded passengers get the place they must be.