IAA - Irish Aviation Authority

03/02/2026 | Press release | Archived content

Travel Disruption Notice: Middle East

Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, many flights to and from the region have been cancelled or significantly disrupted.

Passengers are advised to check the latest travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and to confirm their flight status directly with their airline before travelling to the airport.

Guidance for Passengers Facing Disruption

Under EU Regulation (EC) 261/2004, passengers are entitled to specific rights when flights are delayed or cancelled. These rights vary depending on the circumstances of your journey, including the airline operating the flight and the airport of departure.

Overview of Passenger Rights Under EU Legislation

The table below provides guidance on whether your flight is covered by EU Regulation 261/2004:

Flight Itinerary

Flight Operated by EU Carrier

Flight Operated by NonEU Carrier

Departing from an EU Airport (incl. Ireland)

Arriving into an EU Airport(incl. Ireland)

Regardless of whether EU law applies, the IAA strongly encourages airlines to make every reasonable effort to minimise the impact on passengers.

Passengers should continue to monitor DFA travel advice and check their flight status directly with their airline.

If You Are Departing from Ireland or into Ireland from an EU carrier

All flights departing from an EU airport or into the EU on an EU carrier -including Ireland-are covered by EU passenger rights legislation.

If your flight has been cancelled and you no longer wish to travel

If your flight has been cancelled with less than 7 days notice, you are entitled to a refund within 7 days.

If you still wish to travel

Your airline must:

  • Re-route you at the earliest opportunity or at a later date of your choice

  • Provide meals, refreshments, and accommodation where necessary

  • Keep you informed throughout the disruption

If the airline cannot immediately provide these services due to exceptional circumstances, it should reimburse reasonable costs you incur.

If You Booked a Package Holiday

Passengers travelling on a package holiday may have additional protections under package travel legislation.

If the disruption means your holiday cannot proceed as planned, your tour operator must:

  • Offer an alternative holiday, if available, or

  • Provide a full refund of the package price

You can contact the CCPC for advice on enforcing your consumer rights relating to package holiday refunds.

They provide general guidance and can explain next steps.

Website: https://www.ccpc.ie/consumers/travel/package-holidays/

If the business is based outside Ireland in another EU country you can contact the European Consumer Centre Ireland (ECC Ireland)

Website: https://www.eccireland.ie

Fixed-Sum Compensation

While we recognise the impact this disruption is having, passengers are unlikely to be entitled to fixed-sum compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004.

The situation in the Middle East is likely to be considered an extraordinary circumstance. Extraordinary circumstances do not affect your rights to care, assistance, refunds or re-routing, but they do mean compensation is unlikely to apply.

Important Notes

The above guidance reflects the IAA's interpretation of passenger rights and is intended to assist passengers. Each case is fact-specific. Passengers may still choose to pursue claims directly with airlines, or through the courts, if they believe compensation is owed.

More information on your rights is available on the IAA website.

IAA - Irish Aviation Authority published this content on March 02, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 06, 2026 at 09:16 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]