The current escalation in the Middle East has severely impacted international air traffic. The global hubs of Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, which serve as key connections between Europe, Asia, and Australia, are particularly affected.
With numerous airlines forced to drastically reroute or completely cancel flights, thousands of stranded passengers are wondering about their legal recourse. Julian Navas, legal expert at AirHelp, clarifies that these are "extraordinary circumstances," which exempt airlines from making blanket compensation payments. However, basic rights to care and transportation remain.
According to EU Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 on air passenger rights, passengers have the right to choose between a full refund of the ticket price or alternative transportation to their destination in the event of a cancellation or significant delay. The airline is obligated to offer both options; a voucher imposed unilaterally is not legally permissible. If a passenger chooses a refund, the contractual relationship ends, and the onward journey must be arranged independently. If, however, the passenger chooses rebooking, the airline must bear all costs for the alternative connection. This regulation applies to all departures from the EU as well as to flights operated by EU airlines to Europe.
Despite the crisis, airlines' duty of care remains in effect. Airlines must provide adequate meals and, if necessary, hotel accommodation including transfers. The European Court of Justice has confirmed that this duty of care applies without exception, even in the event of armed conflict. The fact that hotlines are currently often overloaded does not absolve the companies of their obligation to provide information and assistance. Passengers stranded at airports without support should document all expenses for necessary meals in order to claim reimbursement later.
Experts urge caution when rebooking flights independently. As long as a flight has not been officially canceled, passengers should not cancel on their own, as this could forfeit their right to a refund. Only if the airline demonstrably refuses rebooking or is completely unreachable should alternative transportation be arranged independently. In this case, complete documentation of all contact attempts – such as screenshots of calls or emails – is essential for later reimbursement of reasonable additional costs.