Has your flight been canceled due to the conflict in the Middle East?
2026.03.04.
Due to the war situation in Iran and the closure of airspace, airlines are canceling flights to and from the East one after another.
This raises the legitimate question: have you lost everything, or does the airline have to pay?
Let`s clarify the legal situation, because there are a lot of misconceptions on the internet!
THE BAD NEWS: Compensation (pain and suffering) is NOT available
If you have ever had a delayed or canceled flight, you may have heard about the magical €250-400-600 compensation provided by EU Regulation 261/2004/EC.
Well, in the event of armed conflict, airspace closure, and political instability, this does not apply.
The law refers to this as an extraordinary circumstance (force majeure).
Since the airline could not have avoided the situation even with the utmost care (as it cannot fly into a war zone), it is exempt from paying compensation.
THE GOOD NEWS: You won't lose your money!
Just because the airline is not responsible for the war, it cannot keep your money in its pocket. In the event of a flight cancellation, Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 8, requires them to offer you a choice between two options:
- Immediate refund: You will receive a full refund of the ticket price (usually within 7 days).
- Rebooking: The airline must offer you an alternative route to your destination (either at a later date when it is safe to travel, or via a different route).
WHAT IF YOU ARE STRANDED ABROAD? (Obligation to provide assistance)
This is the most important thing that many people don't know:
The airline's obligation to provide care also applies in cases of force majeure!
If you are stranded in a foreign country due to a cancellation and have to wait for a rebooked flight, the airline is obliged to provide hotel accommodation, transfers between the airport and the hotel, and meals in accordance with Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004.
If they fail to do so and you have to pay, keep the receipts, because you can claim them back later!
PRO TIP: Don't cancel your ticket!
If you see in the news that there is a problem, don't panic and don't press the "Cancel" button in the app!
If you cancel the trip yourself, it will be considered a normal cancellation, and depending on the type of ticket, you may lose your money.
Wait until the airline cancels the flight! As soon as you receive an email about this, your passenger rights come into effect.
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