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

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

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

Iran and Iraq closed their airspaces in response to the escalating action, which has seen explosions across the Middle East. Soon afterwards, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, as well as other Gulf locations, also grounded flights.

Dubai International Airport, the biggest global hub, closed to arrivals and departures shortly before 12 noon GMT. On a typical day, around a quarter of a million passengers fly in and out of “DXB”.

The main airline at Dubai, Emirates, said it had temporarily suspended operations “due to multiple regional airspace closures” and the giant Gulf carrier Qatar Airways has suspended all flights to and from its hub in Doha.

Dozens of flights have been diverted or returned to their starting points.

These are the key questions and answers about passengers’ rights.

The unfolding picture indicates that this will be the most severe disruption to aviation in the region since the Covid pandemic.

While Qatar experienced a temporary closure in June 2025 following a US-Iran clash, the added closure of Dubai means that hundreds more flights are cancelled.

Passenger Mike Boreham had his British Airways flight from Dubai to Heathrow cancelled as the fully laden aircraft was on the point of departure. Speaking from inside the airport terminal, he said: “It’s chaos here, just imagine 100 flights getting off at once. It’s hundreds of people, I’ve never seen the airport like it.”

With every hour that the closures continue, many thousands more passengers are affected.

Under UK and EU air passengers’ rights legislation, anyone starting their journey in Europe is in a strong position.

Stuck in Dubai or Doha? Under air passengers’ rights rules, you must be provided with a hotel and meals until you can be flown out. However, given the sheer weight of numbers, it may be that passengers are told to fend for themselves and later claim the cost of accommodation and food

Not yet left Britain? Passengers booked from UK airports on Emirates or Qatar Airways via Dubai or Doha to Asia, Australasia or Africa are entitled to be flown to their destination as soon as possible by any carrier that has seats available.

• For more: Elrisala website and for social networking, you can follow us on Facebook
• Source of information and images “independent”“