Middle East – Travel advice for passengers – UK CAA | News
Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, many flights to and from the region are being canceled.
We advise passengers to consult the latest travel advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Passengers who are currently abroad and cannot travel home should contact their airline for advice on the support and assistance available.
Passengers traveling to the Middle East are advised to check with their airline regularly before traveling to the airport.
Guidance for passengers experiencing disruptions due to the situation in the Middle East
Many passengers are currently facing disruptions when traveling between the Middle East and Great Britain due to the current situation in the region.
When flights are delayed and cancelled, we expect airlines to minimize 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 set out in UK law. However, the rights of passengers experiencing disruptions vary depending on the departure location and the airline that would operate the disrupted flight.
We advise all passengers to check the FCDO travel advice and confirm their flight status with their airline before traveling to the airport: Foreign travel Advice – GOV.UK
Arrival in Great Britain
Different rights apply if your airline is not a UK or EU airline. Contact your airline or check its website for more information about your rights.
If you still want to travel: If your flight is covered by UK passenger rights law and you still want to travel, your airline is legally obliged to take you home and look after you while you wait by providing meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation in proportion to the time you are delayed.
To get you home, your airline is obliged to find you an alternative flight (also called “rerouting”). Rerouting should take place as soon as possible or at a later date at your convenience, depending on availability.
Unfortunately, it can be challenging for airlines to provide alternative routes 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 we would like. Nevertheless, we expect your airline to do everything it can to offer you an alternative flight and to keep you informed.
If your airline cannot proactively provide you with care or offer suitable alternative flights, we expect it to promptly reimburse you for the reasonable costs you incur in arranging it yourself. Make sure you keep receipts and avoid incurring excessive charges.
If you no longer wish to travel: If your flight is covered by UK passenger rights law and has been cancelled, you have the option to receive a refund if you no longer wish to travel. If you have chosen this option, you must confirm this with your airline. The airline must refund the money within 7 days.
Departing from Great Britain
All flights departing from Great Britain are subject to British passenger rights law. This means that airlines are legally obliged to take you to your destination or give you a refund if you no longer wish to travel.
If you no longer wish to travel: If your flight is canceled, you have the option to get your money back if you no longer wish to travel. If you have chosen this option, you must confirm this with your airline. The airline must refund the money within 7 days.
If you still want to travel: Your airline is legally obliged to take you to your destination and look after you while you wait by providing meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation in proportion to the time you are delayed.
To get you to your destination, your airline is required to find you an alternative flight (also called “rerouting”). Rerouting should take place as soon as possible or at a later date at your convenience, depending on availability.
Unfortunately, it can be challenging for airlines to offer an alternate route during periods of major disruption, especially if the airport you were due to travel to is closed at short notice. This may mean that your airline may not be able to get you home as quickly as we would like. Nevertheless, we expect your airline to do everything it can to offer you an alternative flight and to keep you informed.
If your airline cannot proactively provide you with care or offer suitable alternative flights, we expect it to promptly reimburse you for the reasonable costs you incur in arranging it yourself. Make sure you keep receipts and avoid incurring excessive charges.
If you are traveling on a package tour
If you have booked a package holiday, you may also benefit from additional rights, especially if this means that your original package holiday cannot be delivered. If flight delays or cancellations result in your holiday being cancelled, or if new arrangements are made that result in a significant change to your holiday, your travel company must offer an alternative holiday where possible, or a refund of the full price of your package holiday.
Fixed fee
While we recognize the negative impact that these delays and cancellations will have on passengers, it is unlikely that disruptions directly caused by the situation in the Middle East will be entitled to a lump sum compensation under UK passenger rights law for any delays or cancellations.
Under UK passenger rights law, airlines are sometimes required to provide a fixed amount of compensation to passengers in certain circumstances. The disruptions directly caused by the situation in the Middle East are likely to be regarded as “extraordinary circumstances”. As a result, passengers are unlikely to be entitled to a fixed amount of compensation. Extraordinary circumstances do not affect your other rights to alternative flights and care as described above; these are due regardless of the cause of your delay or cancellation.
https://www.caa.co.uk/newsroom/news/middle-east-passenger-travel-advice-1-march-2026/
