This is what the unrest around Iran means if you fly to Asia during the summer holidays
Due to the unrest in the Middle East, airlines are avoiding Israel and Iran, among other countries. But they also often do not fly over a number of other countries. Detours cost more time and money and that can mean that your flight is cancelled. In this article we answer your questions.
If you want to fly to the Far East, the airspace you can fly through is being closed to more and more countries. Airlines from Europe and the US have not flown over Ukraine since flight MH17 was shot down. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian airspace has also been closed.
For a few days now, planes have also not flown over Israel and Iran. In addition, they have been avoiding countries such as Syria and Iraq for some time. Furthermore, they hardly fly over Afghanistan. And they avoid the Himalayas anyway, because of the height and because there are only a few airports where you can land if there are problems.
This means that planes to countries such as China, Japan and South Korea have to take a significant detour.
But also if you transfer in the Middle East, such as in Dubai or Qatar, then you are on the road longer. For example, you normally went to those countries via Syria and Iraq, but now you have to go via Saudi Arabia, which is about 500 kilometers, or about 9 percent, further, explains Joris Melkert, aviation expert at TU Delft.
2. What does this mean for airlines and passengers?If a plane is on the road longer, it cannot be used on another flight. Passengers will miss connections, pilots will work more hours, which means more pilots are needed, and planes will sometimes be in the wrong place, says Melkert.
"That costs money, it quickly amounts to tens of thousands of euros per plane. The fuel alone costs thousands of euros extra." The profit margins in aviation are very small, and flights sometimes become loss-making, says Melkert.
Furthermore, the airspace above countries where flights are allowed is becoming more crowded, which could cause delays, he says.
3. If you have already booked, do you have to pay extra if the flight is diverted?No, if you have already booked a flight, you do not have to pay extra because the plane has to fly around. That is the airline's risk, according to the Consumers' Association.
4. Can airlines cancel a flight?Airlines can always cancel flights and change schedules. They can do this at any time. Passengers do have rights in the event of cancellations, schedule changes and delays, says the Consumers' Association.
5. What does it mean if your flight is cancelled?The rule of thumb is that the European rules apply to all flights departing from the European Union, according to the Consumers' Association. And for all flights to the EU, if they are operated by an airline based in the European Union. These precise rules have many ifs and buts.
However, in the event of a cancellation or major change to the schedule (departing earlier or arriving much later), passengers with a separate ticket are entitled to a refund or an alternative flight (either on the same day or on a day of their choice).
6. Do they also receive compensation?Passengers with a single flight ticket will not receive financial compensation if the flight is cancelled or changed due to unrest. Travelers with a package holiday are sometimes entitled to a price reduction if their holiday is (much) shorter as a result, says the Consumers' Association.
Passengers with a single ticket may choose a flight themselves in case of cancellation, even on an earlier day. This can be a smart move, because the company does not have to compensate them for damages (for example, vacation days). However, some travel insurers do cover a delayed return journey.
8. Are all airlines changing their flights?Airlines from China and Turkey do fly over Russia. They are therefore less affected by the unrest in the Middle East, according to the Consumers' Association. However, they do not all fly over Russia. The Turkish Airlines flight between Istanbul and Tokyo, for example, does not fly over Russia and they too are now avoiding the airspace of Israel, Syria, Iran and Iraq, among others.
9. Will airlines increase prices for tickets that have not yet been booked?That remains to be seen. Airlines can also compromise on margins or use other aircraft, according to the Consumers' Association.
How will Iran respond? Correspondent Pepijn Nagtzaam explains in this video:
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