BANGKOK, THAILAND – Flights between Thailand and Europe were severely reduced from 28 February 2026, leaving many travelers stranded and pushing ticket prices sharply higher.
Why return flights became scarce and expensive
Major Gulf carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad had previously handled most low-cost routes between Thailand and Europe. From 28 February they stopped serving Thailand altogether, even though some routes to other regions had gradually resumed.
Remaining direct operators like Thai Airways picked up demand but with steep price rises. One-way Bangkok–Frankfurt economy tickets exceeded 64,000 baht per person, and many flights until the end of March were fully booked.
Cancelled flights: what passengers were entitled to
Travelers holding tickets with a Gulf airline whose flight was cancelled were entitled to rebooking or a full refund. The basis was EU Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, which applied to EU carriers and all departures from European airports.
Flat compensation of up to 600 euros did not apply because war-related airspace closures were treated as extraordinary circumstances. The obligation to provide care remained in force, meaning airlines had to cover hotel accommodation, meals and transfers while passengers waited.
How to deal with airlines
Passengers were advised to handle all communication with airlines in writing by email, as verbal promises were hard to prove later. Cancellations should be confirmed in writing and all out-of-pocket expenses documented with receipts.
Travelers were warned not to sign vouchers without carefully reading the conditions, because accepting a voucher could forfeit the right to a cash refund. They were urged to insist on a refund or rebooking wherever possible.
Rebooking and refunds at the Gulf airlines
Etihad Airways allowed tickets issued up to 28 February with travel dates until 10 March to be changed free of charge to Etihad flights until 31 March or fully refunded via etihad.com. Emirates offered rebookings until 31 March or refunds for bookings made up to 30 April.
Qatar Airways had not resumed operations and remained grounded. Passengers could request a full refund, and anyone who had booked through a travel agency was told to contact the agency directly rather than the airline.
Expiring visas: what travelers had to do
Nationals of Germany, Austria and Switzerland were allowed to stay in Thailand visa-free for 60 days, extendable once by 30 days at the local immigration office for a maximum of 90 days. Those unable to leave within this period because of cancelled flights or unaffordable tickets were told to act before their permission expired or risk fines and possible future entry bans.
Thailand responded by waiving the daily overstay fee of 500 baht for all foreigners whose permission to stay expired on or after 28 February 2026, provided they departed as soon as a flight became available. Travelers needing to remain longer could apply for an extension of up to 30 days; without the waiver, overstay would normally cost 500 baht per day, capped at 20,000 baht.
Documents required at immigration
For an extension, applicants needed the TM.7 form, a copy of their passport and a letter from their own embassy confirming hardship caused by the flight disruption. If such a letter could not be obtained in time due to the crisis, travelers could submit a formal written declaration explaining their emergency situation.
Immigration officers accepted this declaration as an equivalent form of proof. Those who approached the authorities calmly, presented written cancellation confirmations from their airline and credibly showed they were not at fault for the delay were said to have a good chance of a pragmatic solution, with officials stressing that proactive visits to immigration were better than waiting.
Immigration offices and hotlines
Immigration offices operated Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 16:30. In Bangkok, the office was at Chaeng Watthana Government Complex, Building B, Tel. +66 2 141 9889, while Pattaya could be reached at +66 38 252 750 and Phuket at +66 76 221 905.
The Chiang Mai office was located at Promenada Resort Mall, Tel. +66 53 201 755, and Krabi could be contacted at +66 75 665 099. The Tourist Police hotline 1155 remained available free of charge around the clock, offering multilingual assistance.
Emergency support: 2,000 baht per day
Thailand’s Tourism Ministry decided on emergency support of 2,000 baht per day for each day on which departure was demonstrably impossible, following a meeting on Monday, 2 March 2026. Deputy permanent secretary Natthriya Thaweewong confirmed that this amount had been approved in principle, although detailed application procedures were still to be announced.
Travelers who believed they were eligible were instructed to contact the nearest Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office or the ministry itself, where local officials would record their situation and coordinate assistance. TAT could be reached via the 1672 hotline daily from 08:00 to 20:00, while the ministry was available at +66 2 283 1500 and online at www.mots.go.th.
Discounted hotel stays for stranded visitors
The Thai Hotels Association asked its member properties to offer reduced room rates to stranded guests. At the same time, tour operators were encouraged to create special packages so that holidaymakers could make constructive use of their extended stay.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand set up a crisis monitoring center and sent staff from local offices into affected hotels to assess needs on the ground. The hardest-hit areas included Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga and Chiang Mai, and travelers needing help were told to contact their nearest TAT office directly.
Cheaper alternatives for return flights
Those unable or unwilling to wait for Gulf airlines to resume service were advised to look at indirect routes. Turkish Airlines continued to fly via Istanbul to Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with seats still available at the time.
Other options included routes via India, such as through Delhi with Air India, or via East Asia through Seoul and Tokyo. Although travel times were longer, prices on these routes tended to be significantly lower than current direct fares.
Checking departures from other airports
Flexible travelers were encouraged to consider departures from Chiang Mai or Phuket, where demand was sometimes lower than in Bangkok, occasionally resulting in better availability and prices. Comparing multiple booking platforms was recommended, as fares fluctuated daily.
Officials warned passengers not to delay decisions, saying that seats on cheaper alternative routes were limited. Acting quickly could therefore improve chances of securing an affordable ticket home.
Those who had planned to fly to Thailand
Travelers with outbound flights to Thailand via Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi that were cancelled enjoyed the same rights as those returning to Europe, with a choice between rebooking and a full refund. These protections applied regardless of whether the journey was inbound or outbound.
Direct flights to Bangkok with Thai Airways or Lufthansa remained available but were more expensive than usual. Those who had not yet booked were advised to check connections via Istanbul or Delhi as potentially cheaper alternatives.
Role of embassies in Thailand
Embassies in Thailand could issue support letters for immigration authorities and provide further assistance in emergencies. The German Embassy in Bangkok was located at 9 South Sathorn Road and was reachable around the clock at +66 (0)2 287 9000.
The Austrian Embassy maintained an emergency service at +66 (0)81 903 6516, while the Swiss Embassy in Bangkok could be contacted on +66 (0)2 674 6900. These missions were key contact points for nationals needing official confirmation of hardship.
Direct airline contacts
Travelers were advised to check the latest flight status online before heading to the airport. Airline desks on site could often process rebookings more quickly than call centers, especially during periods of high demand.
Key carriers included Thai Airways (+66 (0)2 356 1111, www.thaiairways.com), Emirates (+66 (0)2 787 3387 in Bangkok, +971 600 555 555 in Dubai, www.emirates.com), Etihad Airways (+66 (0)2 253 0088 in Bangkok, +971 600 555 666 in Abu Dhabi, www.etihad.com), Qatar Airways (+66 (0)2 459 0032 in Bangkok, +974 4023 0000 in Doha, www.qatarairways.com), Lufthansa (+49 69 86 799 799, www.lufthansa.com) and Turkish Airlines (+90 212 444 0849, www.turkishairlines.com).
Authorities and support services in Thailand
For questions about visas, overstay or general assistance, several agencies in Thailand remained responsible. The Tourist Police hotline 1155 offered multilingual support around the clock.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand could be reached at 1672 daily from 08:00 to 20:00 and via www.tourismthailand.org, while the Tourism Ministry remained available at +66 2 283 1500 and www.mots.go.th. Germany’s Federal Foreign Office provided updated travel and security advice at www.auswaertiges-amt.de.
How long the disruption could last
From 6 March, Etihad resumed a limited schedule to more than 70 destinations from Abu Dhabi, but Bangkok was not among them. Emirates also operated a reduced network of around 82 destinations without routes to Thailand, and Qatar Airways remained completely grounded due to the ongoing full closure of Qatari airspace.
It remained unclear when regular services to Thailand would restart. Thai immigration’s special rules on overstay and visas were to stay in place until the situation in the Middle East stabilized, with no fixed end date, and Germany’s Federal Foreign Office continued to update travel warnings and restrictions on a daily basis via its website.