The attack by Israeli and US forces on Iran, and subsequent response by Tehran, has brought aviation across much of the Middle East to a halt.
Hundreds of thousands of airline passengers have had their travel plans disrupted.
Cancellations and diversions began after a “major combat operation” was confirmed by Donald Trump against Iran.
Dubai International Airport, the biggest global hub, has closed to arrivals and departures, while giant Gulf carrier Qatar Airways has suspended all flights to and from its hub in Doha.
Many readers have got in touch with travel correspondent Simon Calder about their rights and options. These are a few of the key questions.
Stranded in Dubai
Q I am one of the many passengers whose British Airways flight on Saturday from Dubai to London was cancelled. I have been rebooked to fly home on Monday on Qatar Airways – but this involves a 12-hour wait at Doha airport. I asked for a non-stop flight instead, but BA told me: “Unfortunately, we do not have the interline agreement with Emirates.” I challenged again and was told: “There are no such policies to entitle passengers with the direct flight if there is disruption.” What are my options?
Mike Boreham
A Under air passengers’ rights rules, travellers whose flights are cancelled by British Airways or any other European airline are entitled to be flown to their destination as soon as possible on any carrier that has seats available “under comparable conditions” to the original flight. To me, that means a like-for-like nonstop trip to Heathrow. In calmer times: when my BA flight from London to Singapore was cancelled at the gate, the airline first offered a Qatar Airways replacement via Doha but then agreed to transfer me to Singapore Airlines nonstop.
I recently asked the Civil Aviation Authority whether a cancelling a nonstop flight requires the airline to replace it with another nonstop – or whether airlines can offer “take-it-or-leave-it” connecting flights. The CAA declined to give firm guidance, saying it is a matter for the courts or alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to resolve.
If you would like to become a test case, do go ahead and buy a new nonstop ticket on Emirates. The British Airways assertion that “we do not have the interline agreement with Emirates” is irrelevant: BA has to find the most appropriate flight, paying cash if necessary.
Having said that, I doubt Emirates will have have any space for the next week or so, as the airline seeks to recover from disruption. So I think your reasonable request will be moot. And while I hate to add more gloom to your day: your flight on Monday does not look at all certain to go ahead.
Stranded in paradise?
Q We’re due to fly from Male to London Heathrow via Doha on Monday with Qatar Airways. It’s booked as part of a package holiday so does that change our passenger rights? This was all booked with Travelbag.
Alex Pease
A Booking a proper package holiday always confers stronger consumer protection than flight-only/DIY arrangements. In this context, I am sure Travelbag – like other good travel firms – will be working to find potential alternatives. At this stage, though, the assumption is that your flights will be operating as expected. If it is cancelled, that will signify wider and continuing disruption.
This will be difficult to solve, with so many holidaymakers in the Maldives dependent on flying via the Gulf. Air passengers’ rights rules, which would entitle you to be flown to your destination as soon as possible on any airline, and to be provided with meals and hotels until you get there, will not apply because you are outside Europe and on a non-UK/EU.
But under the Package Travel Regulations 2018, the travel firm must provide up to three nights of accommodation. If you are, if I may, stranded in paradise for any longer than that, travel insurance should pick up the bill.
Sri Lanka to Spain?
Q We are currently in Sri Lanka due to fly home to Spain via Abu Dhabi with Etihad next week. Any advice?
Tracey Kennedy
A Wait and see. A week is a long time in international geopolitics. While this is clearly a large-scale disruption of schedules, let us hope that the conflict in the region ends swiftly.
When flights resume, it is the people who have confirmed reservations for those departures who take priority. Passengers who have had flights cancelled must battle for any empty seats.
I hope you will be able to travel as normal. If not, you are in the uncomfortable position that air passenger rights rules do not apply to journeys from outside Europe on non-European airlines. Etihad can offer you whatever alternative it likes – including simply offering you a refund for the unused part of your ticket.
Hong Kong to Manchester?
Q My son’s flight from Hong Kong to Manchester flight via Doha with Qatar Airways has been cancelled. What’s his best option to get home ? Should they reroute him?
D Leigh
A If seats are available he could be rebooked on nonstop Cathay Pacific, or BA via Heathrow, or on one of the Chinese airlines via the People’s Republic. But as he is flying on a non-European carrier from outside Europe, I am sorry to say there is no legal obligation to help him beyond a refund.
Ask at the airport?
Q Should we report to Manchester for check in for Qatar Airways to rebook and reroute our flights?
Adrian Strain
A Were I booked on an urgent trip via Doha to somewhere in Africa, for example, I might well be tempted to go to Manchester airport and ask staff there to re-book me – as passenger rights rules require – on another airline, such as Air France or Lufthansa via their hubs.
However, I think it would be a futile journey. Almost all of the ground staff who work for Qatar Airways at Manchester are employed by third-party companies and have no authority to rebook you. I recognise this is frustrating, particularly if you have spent hours trying to get through to the airline to find out your options, but it is the unfortunate reality.
At least you know the carrier has an obligation to you because you are beginning your journey in the UK.
If you are not getting any helpful response, and can demonstrate that you have made every effort to contact Qatar Airways, you can always make an appropriate alternative booking and send the airline the bill.
Home from Riyadh?
Q What would be the best route getting from Riyadh to London not going via Doha and other closed airspace?
Elaine Shannan
A At present I cannot see any problem affecting flights from the Saudi capital to the UK – beyond Virgin Atlantic cancelling its flights on Sunday/Monday. The standard routing that many carriers are following to avoid the Gulf involves flying over Saudi Arabia.
The usual flight path would see you travel west to the Gulf of Aqaba and then northwest over Egypt and the Mediterranean, followed by a normal track from Athens to the UK.
Read more: 21 years of air passengers’ rights rules
