BANGKOK, THAILAND – A British couple were stranded in Thailand after flight cancellations linked to the crisis between the US, Israel and Iran cut off their route home via Dubai.
Missed journey home via Dubai
Laura Webster (40) from Birmingham said she and her husband had been told by their travel agency that there would be no available flights back to the UK for at least two weeks.
Young children were waiting in the UK, who according to the family were currently being looked after by former partners.
Emirates cuts services and limits transit
The couple had planned to fly with Emirates on 5 March from Thailand to Dubai, stay there for three nights and then continue on to Birmingham.
The flight was cancelled as airlines reduced capacity in the region, and Emirates said it would operate only a reduced schedule until further notice and would accept transit passengers only if their onward flight was actually operating.
Alternative routes at prohibitive prices
Webster said the couple were frantically searching for any way to get home and were prepared to accept multiple stopovers if necessary.
She said a route via Japan had been found, but tickets were priced at around £10,000 each and were therefore unaffordable.
Middle East airspace closures deepen disruption
The disruption was triggered by extensive airspace closures in the Middle East after the conflict escalated the previous weekend and numerous connections were cancelled or severely reduced.
Additional concern was fuelled by images from Dubai showing black smoke over the port of Jebel Ali after debris from an intercepted Iranian rocket was reported to have hit the area.
When legal protections fall short with non-EU airlines
The case highlighted limits to passenger protection when flights were operated by airlines based outside Britain and the EU.
According to the report, UK consumer law did not automatically apply in such cases, and airlines were not necessarily required to rebook affected passengers on other carriers, even if an alternative route would get them home more quickly.
Insurance refuses coverage as hotel support ends
The travel agency had arranged three extra nights of accommodation in Thailand, after which the couple had to make their own arrangements.
The travel insurance did not help because the disruption was linked to war, which is excluded in many policies.
Uncertain outlook for hubs like Dubai
The BBC reported that uncertainty would continue as long as reduced timetables remained in place and regional restrictions applied.
Many airlines had not yet indicated when full normal operations through major hubs such as Dubai would resume.
“How well do you think travellers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland are protected in such crisis situations when their route involves non-European airlines and hubs?”
said the report, inviting readers to reflect on the level of security for passengers.
“Should travel agencies, airlines and insurers be required to set out more transparently and more bindingly who is responsible in an emergency for rebooking, accommodation and return transport?”
said the report, raising questions about clearer rules in future crises.