Planes flights and airlines

BRITISH Airways has cancelled all flights to Dubai until June as the ongoing crisis in Iran continues to affect travel.

The flag carrier confirmed yesterday that they have suspended operations until May 31.

This includes to the UAE city of Dubai, as well as Amman in Jordan and to Bahrain.

British Airways usually operates around 20 flights a week to Dubai so thousands of passengers are expected to be affected.

Flights to Doha have been suspended until the end of April.

And the airline has cancelled the rest of their Abu Dhabi flights for the season, meaning they won’t restart until October 25.

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An spokesman said: “Due to the continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability, and to provide more clarity to our customers, we’ve extended the temporary reduction in our flying schedule in the region.

“We’re keeping the situation under constant review and are directly in touch with affected customers to offer them a range of options.

“Since the situation in the Middle East began, we’ve helped thousands of customers return home and operated eight relief flights from Muscat in Oman.”

British Airways confirmed that they are operating more flights via other international hubs in replacement of Dubai, which is one of the world’s busiest airports.

This includes four more flights via Singapore and three more flights via Bangkok.

Passengers affected will be able to rebook with another airline, or move their travel to a different date.

Otherwise full refunds are being given to anyone with bookings up to May 31.

The ongoing Iran crisis is still causing chaos for travellers, not just those in the Middle East.

Virgin Atlantic has already ended its Dubai flights for the season early, which were due to conclude on March 28.

Emirates and Qatar Airways have launched limited flights again from Dubai and Doha, respectively.

However, Dubai Airport as forced to suspend flights again yesterday after a drone strike hit a fuel tank.

A number of flights were cancelled in response, with some airlines forcing to turn back after take off.

The Sun’s Travel Expert has answered all of your holiday questions here.

And here are the European destinations seeing huge demand following the conflict.

A SURGE in fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict has resulted in a major airline axing five per cent of its flights.

Air New Zealand announced that it will be cutting back on flights over the next two months.

Chief Executive of Air New Zealand Nikhil Ravishankar said the airline would see roughly a five per cent reduction in its services.

And that this would continue until the beginning of May 2026.

This reduction equates to around 1,100 flights which in turn will affect 44,000 passengers out of its 1.9million.

Talking to 1News Nikhil Ravishankar explained: “We’re focused on consolidating flights that are off-peak flying hours, for example, or where there is an alternative that we can re-accommodate customers.”

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He later added that the, “interventions we’re putting in place are not only reasonable, but are what all airlines around the world are doing”.

Air New Zealand said that most of the passengers affected would be moved onto other flights.

The airline has not provided a list of affected flights, but some officials in New Zealand have revealed domestic routes have been altered.

Mayor Nadine Taylor said that Air New Zealand intends to reduce its routes from Marlborough to Wellington, with Auckland and Christchurch flights also affected

The airline detailed that fewer long-haul flights would be cut.

MR Ravishankar said: “People want to get to Europe still, and ​over the US airspace we can get them into Europe, and that’s what we’re focused on doing.”

The announcement comes shortly after Air New Zealand increased its prices in response to the rising cost of fuel.

Domestic flights were going up by $10 (£4.37) one way, short haul by $20 (£8.74), and long haul $90 (£39.35).

Due to the ongoing US-Iran conflict, the cost of jet fuel has risen significantly.

Before the conflict, prices were around $90 (£67) per barrel and have since increased to as much as $200 (£149) per barrel.

As a result, it’s not just Air New Zealand that has increased its ticket prices – other airlines like Qantas and Scandinavia’s SAS have done the same.

However, some airlines like Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, are less affected because they have secured some of their fuel at fixed prices for a set amount of time.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said the rise in jet fuel “won’t affect our costs and it won’t affect ​our low fares”.

It’s not just flights that are affected. Places like the Balearic and Canary Islands are warning of a rise in the cost of food and drink.

And here’s why you should book a holiday now, as Iran crisis makes it more expensive.

BRITAIN’s third busiest airport has shut one of the terminals for good.

The terminal, which first opened in 1962, has closed as part of the airport’s £1.3billion transformation.

Manchester airport is turning into a two-terminal operation under the new layout.

All airlines have moved into the expanded Terminal 2, which now handles more than 75% of passengers, while Ryanair flights will operate solely from Terminal 3.

Chris Woodroofe, managing director of Manchester Airport, said: “While this is the end of an era for Terminal 1, it’s really the start of a whole new chapter for Manchester Airport.

“We’re proud to connect the North to the world and our £1.3bn investment in Terminal 2 means that we’re now bigger and better than ever – serving our passengers in a setting that rivals any airport Terminal across Europe.

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“It’s also allowing us to continue our growth and operate more flights to more destinations every single day. And we’ve achieved this at the same as making things more simple and straightforward for our passengers.

The closure also frees up space for new facilities at the airport, including hundreds of extra seats, a new bar called Sporting Chance and an Italian restaurant.

More than 2,000 signs across the airport have been replaced to reflect the changes, alongside a new parking system where all car parks are labelled P1 to P16 to make them easier to find.

The redevelopment forms part of the long-running Manchester Airport Transformation Programme, launched in 2015 to modernise the airport for future growth.

The first phase of the revamped Terminal 2 opened in 2021, with the full expansion completed in 2025, paving the way for Terminal 1 to be decommissioned.

The overhaul comes as Manchester Airport continues to grow, serving a record 32 million passengers in 2025.

This February has become the busiest on record with more than 2.05 million travellers.

HUNDREDS of flights across Europe are being cancelled due to a two-day airline strike and thousands of Brits will be affected.

Lufthansa pilots are walking out today for a 48-hour period, over a dispute in regard to pay and pensions.

The airline has since been forced to cancel a huge part of the flight schedule until the strike ends on Saturday.

Around 50 per cent of all Lufthansa flight will be cancelled, which includes 40 per cent of long-haul flights..

This works out to around 300 flights a day, so 600 flights in total, according to Andreas Pinheiro, the head of the union.

Munich and Frankfurt have been hit with the most cancellations.

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A number of UK flights are included in this today, such as:

• 10:05am from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 11:05am from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 12:05pm from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 12:10pm from Manchester to Frankfurt
• 1:05pm from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 3:40pm from Edinburgh to Frankfurt
• 3:45pm from Manchester to Frankfurt
• 4pm from Birmingham to Frankfurt
• 4:05pm from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 6:05pm from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 8:05pm from London Heathrow to Frankfurt

A similar number are cancelled tomorrow as well, meaning thousands are affected travelling from the UK.

A statement from Lufthansa reads: “Lufthansa is working intensively to keep the impact on our passengers as low as possible and has published a special flight schedule for both strike days.

“According to this schedule, more than 50 percent of the originally planned flight program can be operated on Thursday and Friday.

“For long-haul connections, the share is as high as 60 percent.”

Passengers affected can request a refund or move their flight date for free up until March 23.

The cancellations are far fewer than the previous strike which saw up to 800 flights cancelled.

Back in February, the airline was forced to cancel 90 per cent of it’s planned flights, affecting 200,000 passengers.

Flights to the Middle East have have been excluded from the current strike action, due to the Iran conflict.

But the continued attacks across the Middle East are continuing to cause huge travel disruption.

More than 32,000 flights have been cancelled across the Middle East in the past three weeks due to the ongoing crisis, according to experts.

Our Travel Expert has answered all of your questions about any upcoming holiday.

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A MEDITERRANEAN destination nicknamed ‘the land of jasmine’ will soon have an even bigger airport with space for millions more passengers.

Plans have been revealed to expand and modernise Tunis-Carthage International Airport in Tunisia, Africa as it aims to quadruple its passenger numbers in just five years.

The airport – which is the 10th busiest in Africa – will undergo a major £743million makeover over the next five years.

The country’s Transport Ministry shared that the plans will include building a new passenger terminal as well as the existing terminal being renovated.

Between the two terminals, the Transport Ministry aims to increase passenger numbers from five million people per year to 18.5million passengers by 2031.

There will also be a new technical building and the air traffic control tower will be upgraded.

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Some reports suggest that the broader project will involve adding VIP lounges as well.

In addition, the Transport Ministry hopes that it will improve connectivity placing Tunisia as a gateway to the Mediterranean with links to Africa, Europe and emerging destinations.

The upgrade could also pave the way for new airline partnerships and flight routes.

News of the makeover follows original plans for building a new airport being put on hold.

Known as ‘the land of jasmine’ for its use of jasmine flowers in festivals, cultural traditions and perfumes, Tunisia takes about three hours to fly to from the UK.

And flights in April are as cheap as £30 one-way.

The capital and main city to visit is Tunis.

The Sun’s Deputy Digital TV Editor Jill Robinson recently visited the city and said: “Winding my way through narrow streets, the smell of jasmine and mint tea fills the air as I pass craftsmen, locals doing their shopping and an abundance of cats.

“It would have been easy to think I was in the souks of Marrakech, but I’m in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia.

“While its Medina is not as chaotic as its Moroccan counterpart, the historic streets bustle with locals selling their wares as tourists like me squeeze through.

“From traditional clothing to jewellery, perfume to sweet treats, there’s any amount of treasures to be found just as long as you’re prepared to haggle.

“The Medina was built around the big mosque — nicknamed the Olive Tree Mosque due to the trees there in the 8th century — but it is also home to 100 smaller mosques.

“While Tunisia is an Islamic country, its history and influences are vast — including Arab, Andalucian, Turkish and Berber — and are visible to see as you take in the colourful arched doorways, former palaces and humble homes.

“On a day trip from my hotel, I learned about the rich culture of Tunis and the ancient ruins of Carthage, whose most famous son Hannibal (of elephants fame) became one of history’s most celebrated generals and took on the might of the Roman Empire in the Second Punic War.”

If you fancy a beach day, head to La Marsa where you will find a number of calm beaches, with cosy cafes and crystal clear waters.

Nearby, you can also head to the blue-and-white village of Sidi Bou Said, which sits on a clifftop and is often compared to Santorini in Greece.

There’s Djerba Island as well, which is loved for its sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife.

The temperature can reach up to 20C in March and 22C in April, making it the ideal destination to grab a bit of warmth while the UK remains around 10C.

Nouvelair Tunisie offers direct flights from London Gatwick to Tunis-Carthage Airport and Tunisair offers direct flights from both London Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

In other airport news, a closed UK airport reveals latest plans to finally reopen after 12 years.

Plus, a major UK airport is getting a new £30million upgrade with more shops, seating and even a ‘hidden speakeasy bar’.

RYANAIR is scrapping more flights to Spain and it will affect one of the country’s popular airports.

The budget airline has already axed millions of seats in recent months, citing expensive airport fees and charges.

And Ryanair has since confirmed that Girona Airport will be the latest victim, with 11 per cent fewer seats next summer.

The airline cited the “failed fee system” for the removals of seats, according to local media.

Alejandra Ruiz, the airline’s spokesperson in Spain, said: “Ryanair had ambitious growth plans for Catalonia’s regional airports, where it could have allocated a fifth aircraft to Girona, a new base in Reus, and unprecedented growth at both airports under competitive and beneficial conditions for all airlines.

“However, we are still waiting for a response from the Spanish government, which has no plans to fix these regional airports.”

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Girona Airport is often used as an alternative to travel to Barcelona, as well as to Costa Brava.

Last year it reported more than 2.1million passengers in 2025 travelling through – its highest numbers since 2013.

Flights to Barcelona will grow, however, with two per cent more capacity, with another six per cent growth in seats for Reus.

And flights to El Prat – one of Spain’s busiest airports – will increase capacity despite being reduced by five per cent over the winter.

Ruiz added: “Our commitment to Barcelona remains strong and we will continue to grow, albeit at a more moderate pace until the airport expands.

Earlier this year, Ryanair confirmed that all flights to and from the Azores will be cancelled from March 29.

Affecting around 400,000 passengers who visit a year, this also includes routes from London.

More than two million seats have been axed across Spain which includes Santiago, Tenerife North and Vigo.

The only direct flights to Vigo from the UK were with Ryanair so Brits will now have to connect to fly to the Spanish city.

Ryanair boss Michel O’Leary warned at the time that “if the costs in regional Spain are too high, I will fly elsewhere”.

Last summer, Ryanair suspended all flights from the UK to flights to Brive and Bergerac, although flights to the latter have been restored.

And Riga in Latvia has also been hit with all routes from Edinburgh scrapped.

Otherwise here is a pretty European island that will be getting new Ryanair flights this year.

HOLIDAYS to Dubai have been left in chaos following the Iran conflict, with thousands of flights cancelled after a number of drone attacks on the city in recent weeks.

So here is everything you need to know right now about travelling to the UAE city.

Is it safe to travel to Dubai right now?

Dubai remains on the no travel list, unless it is essential.

The UK Foreign Office states: “FCDO advises against all but essential travel to United Arab Emirates.

“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).”

While this isn’t outright ban against all travel, essential travel doesn’t usually mean holidays, but is instead things like work or essential family travel.

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The UK government also warns: “Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption.  

“Stay away from areas around security or military facilities.”

The most recent incident in Dubai was a drone strike at the main Dubai International Airport on Saturday, which saw flights temporarily suspended, as well as a drone hitting 23 Marina Tower.

It isn’t clear when the UK Foreign Office will lift the current travel advice.

Are flights going to Dubai?

Airlines are starting to restart routes from Dubai.

Emirates said: “Following the partial re‑opening of regional airspace, Emirates is operating a reduced flight schedule.

“Customers transiting in Dubai will only be accepted for travel if their connecting flight is operating.

“Please do not go to the airport unless you hold a confirmed booking for these flights.”

Virgin Atlantic briefly restarted flights from both Dubai to the UK.

However, a recent 16-hour ‘flight to nowhere’ which was forced to return to London Heathrow has led to the airline scrapping flights until the end of the season (March 28).

British Airways is also unable to operate flights to Dubai, and only has limited flights from Oman to London Heathrow.

Anyone flying with British Airways to Dubai up to March 15 can request a full refund, or change the flight date for free up to March 29.

Other areas in the Middle East such as Doha and Abu Dhabi are still being affected.

Qatar Airways is operating one flight a day to and from London Heathrow to Doha but warns that “scheduled flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace”.

Etihad is operating limited flights to London Heathrow and Manchester from Abu Dhabi, but also warns that “all other scheduled commercial services to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended.”

What if I have a holiday to Dubai booked?

Most tour operators will allow Brits to cancel their holidays to Dubai for a full refund, or offer an alternative option, due to it being on the ‘only essential travel” list.

While this is not mandatory, many are cancelling holidays nonetheless.

Loveholidays is cancelling all holidays up to March 15 either to Dubai or ones that are travelling via Dubai.

They explained:”We’ve made the decision to cancel all holidays departing up to and including 15 March 2026 to countries currently on the FCDO ‘all but essential travel’ list

“This includes holidays with a connecting flight via one of these countries.

“Our team has begun processing full refunds for affected bookings in departure date order and will contact you directly with further information.”

Refunds will be processed in 3-5 working days.

They are also allowing anyone with Emirates flights up to March 31 to cancel their holidays for a full refund, while anyone flying to Dubai with Virgin Atlantic up until March 31 will have their holidays cancelled.

They are not selling any holidays to Dubai up until May, although June holidays remain unaffected.

TUI‘s latest Dubai update was on Friday, saying: “If you are due to travel to the UAE, or are scheduled to transit through, within the next seven days, our pre-travel team will contact you ahead of your departure date to discuss your options.”

On the Beach has cancelled all holidays to the UAE until tomorrow with full refunds although this is likely to be extended.

The Sun’s Head of Travel has answered all your other holiday questions.

PASSENGERS have been filmed evacuating Kansas City International Airport amid unconfirmed reports of an active bomb threat.

Footage being circulated online shows hordes of travelers exiting the Missouri airport in masses.

The reported evacuation began around 11:50am local time on Sunday, according to one onlooker on X.

Others have reported being moved from Concourse B to Concourse A and being filtered onto tarmac via staircases as “emergency sirens” sound in the background.

“We were all told to immediately get to concourse A. K9’s and agents all over the place. No planes on the tarmac,” one passenger wrote online.

There are unconfirmed reports that the evacuation has been triggered by an active bomb threat.

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“There’s an active bomb threat at the Kansas City Airport,” a passenger claiming to have just landed at the airport wrote on X.

“My plane from New Orleans just landed. Pilot said we won’t go to the gate for hours.”

Official Statement

“The Kansas City Aviation Department is aware of a situation at Kansas City International Airport (MCI),” a spokesperson told The U.S. Sun.

“As a precaution, the department has evacuated sections of the Airport Terminal.

“Airport Police are working with the FBI to substantiate any potential threat.”

The spokesperson added that the team “is working with law enforcement to substantiate the legitimacy of a bomb threat.”

Further updates are expected shortly.

It comes just 48 hours after a Southwest Airlines flight was diverted due to a mid-air security threat.

Tensions are high amid the US-Israeli war with Iran that has increased the domestic terror threat and the prolonged shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) due to funding disagreements.

Former Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned that this would “endanger national security,” with TSA and border patrol agents stretched to their limits.

“Now is the time to be vigilant at home and to ensure that all of our doors are locked, so to speak,” Speaker Mike Johnson, warned on Wednesday as he discussed the continued shutdown and conflict.

This is breaking news. Please keep checking back for the latest updates…

A SOUTHWEST Airlines flight has been diverted and forced to do an emergency landing after a mid-air security threat.

Flight 2094 from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale was forced to cut the journey short and land at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at 9:06pm on Friday night.

While thousands of feet in the air, a security threat was reported which saw tactical cops storm the aircraft upon landing and detain a passenger.

A video allegedly taken on board the flight showed the moment a man was dragged off the flight by the Atlanta Police Department.

The clip shared on X showed terrified passengers with their hands raised above their heads as cops cuffed a passenger and took him off the aircraft.

The text on the clip claimed that there had been a bomb threat but this has not been commented on by the airline or police.

In a statement, Southwest said the diversion came due to a “possible security matter.”

“We appreciate the professionalism of our flight crew and sincerely apologize to our customers for the significant delay,” the spokesperson said.

“Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of its customers and employees.”

The Atlanta Police Department confirmed it worked with federal partners to attend to “last night’s incident” at the airport.

The nature of the security threat and if the passenger removed will face any charges remains unclear.

It is not known if the passenger is still in police detention.

Officials have not commented if any dangerous items were found onboard.

After the police activity, all passengers boarded another plane and continued their journey to Fort Lauderdale where they arrived safely just before 3:30am.

The airline has apologized to all affected passengers.

It comes as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) remains on shutdown over funding disagreements which former Security Secretary Kristi Noem said is “endangering national security.”

The DHS has been shut down since February 14 which Noem said has negatively impacted and put huge pressure on TSA and border patrol.

In addition to this, Republicans have warned that the country is under an increased domestic terror threat due to the recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

“Now is the time to be vigilant at home and to ensure that all of our doors are locked, so to speak,” Speaker Mike Johnson, warned on Wednesday as he discussed the continued shutdown.

“Senate needs to fund the TSA. They’ve had them the Coast Guard, FEMA and Cybersecurity CISA on shut down for 3 weeks. We will surely see more of this,” one viewer of the footage from the diverted aircraft said.

“Unfortunately there’s going to be a lot more of this coming,” another said.

SHOPPERS are flocking to Amazon to snag a sleek underseat cabin bag that’s been slashed in cost just in time for the holiday season.

Originally £29.99, the budget-friendly Taygeer Underseat Cabin Bag has now been dropped in price.

Taygeer Underseat Cabin Bag, from £18.99 (was £29.99)

Discounts on these handy backpack vary across depending on colour – you can pick up the black model for £22.79, but that drops to £18.99 if you have Amazon Prime membership.

It looks like a solid choice for anybody flying with budget airlines, where luggage rules are strict and some unlucky travellers get stung with extra fees at the terminal gate.

In a massive win for travellers, Ryanair has changed its free hand luggage rules.

Now, free personal bag allowance has been upped from 40x20x25cm to 40x30x20cm – that’s a 20% increase and an extra 4 litres of space.

Small wonder so many Amazon shoppers are dashing to pick up this rucksack after that price drop.

It is specifically designed to meet those new dimensions while offering a suitcase-style, 180-degree opening that makes packing all your bits an absolute breeze.

Despite its compact size, the bag is packed with features like a built-in wet pocket for toiletries, plus a separate shoe pouch.

You can also pick it up at sizes designed for Easyjet and Lufthansa flights.

The bag has racked up over 6,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, with customers heaping praise on its practicality and quality.

“This is perfect!” one delighted shopper wrote.

“[It] passed the Ryanair bag stand with ease, thanks to the suitcase-like design and all the pockets kept everything separated. 10/10!”

Another shopper shared: “I had room to fit my Kindle, headphones, passports, purse, snacks, and a few other essentials just in the front compartment.

“The larger compartment fit a change of clothes and shoes!”

A third fan added: “Perfect overhead luggage bag, good quality and easy to carry.

“The padding on the back and shoulders make it comfortable no matter the weight.”

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A FLIGHT attendant has opened up on secrets of the trade and revealed how you can earn brownie points in the air to score freebies.

The flight attendant, who has been serving major airlines for two decades, said it is easier than you think to win the favor of those working on planes.

Sandra White has lifted the lid on her veteran experience serving the skies.

“You draw more bees with honey,” she said, meaning rude or impatient flyers will likely not get anything for free – especially not any “off-menu” items.

She shared several tips with Shermans Travel, ranging from how to get a free drink, how to score a better seat, and how not to be the most annoying person on the plane.

“Scoring a free beer on a flight is not all that hard,” she admitted.

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According to White, there are a few reasons why she’ll give a customer a free drink, but it all comes down to one thing: being nice – really nice.

If a plane is having mechanical problems and passengers have been sitting on the tarmac for hours – without being rude – she’ll likely comp them a drink.

“I’m sure they need it,” she said.

She noted that if a flyer happens to only have cash on them, while most airlines only accept cards, she’ll just hand you the drink.

“Basically, kindness goes a long way,” she said.

And as far as a better seat goes, politely asking if there is any availability could help you to win big.

White shared that she’s more than happy to make sure a guest is as comfortable as possible.

When it comes to seats on the plane, that typically comes down to the gate agent’s discretion – but occasionally, flight attendants will send you up to first class if there’s space, and if they ask nicely.

It is not a guarantee, but it never hurts to be friendly to the person serving you peanuts.

The worst passengers, however, are those that come onto the plane having had too much fun while in the airport.

That is, flyers who are already drunk on the flight.

“Annoying drunks” are the bane of a flight attendant’s existence, according to White, thinking their funnier than they are and ordering more drinks before beverage service has even started.

White said these flyers should not even bother getting on the plane.

“I’ve only had to cut off two people – you really don’t want to make a drunk angry at 36,000 feet,” she said.

“They might defecate on the beverage cart. Yes, this really happened to a co-worker.”

BRITISH Airways is launching the world’s largest business class cabin this year.

This week, new information about British Airways‘ new business class seats was leaked.

The leak included the proposed seat plan, revealing the expected layout of the airline’s new A380 cabin.

The new Airbus A380 configuration will feature 110 Club World seats, making it the largest business class cabin on any aircraft.

BA is set to start refurbishing its A380s in the second quarter of this year and inside the refitted planes, passengers will find Club Suites – the newest business class offering.

The suites will feature a privacy screen door, a special lining that reduces noise, a 53.3cm-wide seat and a 200cm bed.

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Passengers will also be able to make use of a 47cm touchscreen as well as side bins and cabinets for their belongings.

Every seat will also have direct aisle access.

The number of premium seats will increase, meaning that the total capacity of the aircraft will be lower.

According to the leaked seat plan, the main deck will feature 12 new first class suites, 84 premium economy seats and 215 economy seats.

The upper deck will be just for Club World business class, with 110 seats in total.

In comparison, this will be a 48-seat reduction compared to the current layout which features 14 first class seats, 97 business class seats, 55 premium economy seats and 303 economy seats.

Club Suites are already available on all A350s, 787-10s, and most 777s from London Heathrow Airport.

In mid-2026, British Airways is also set to introduce its new First seat.

The seats are designed to have a “modern luxury hotel feel” with “home comforts” and “thoughtful British touches”.

The new First seat will be wider and longer and will feature an 81.2cm 4K touchscreen.

The seats will have a ‘buddy dining’ feature as well, which will allow two passengers to dine together in one suite.

There will be a multi-purpose ottoman too, and a floor-level wardrobe.

These seats also form part of the airline’s A380 retrofit plans.

British Airways mainly uses its A380s from London Heathrow to major long-haul destinations such as Los Angeles, Miami, Boston and Johannesburg.

In other flight news, British Airways has launched a business class sale with £500 off flights.

Plus, these are five of the best solo travel destinations according to British Airways experts from beach cities to A-lister hotspots.

WIZZ Air has been given approval to launch its first flights from the UK to the US.

The budget airline’s first transatlantic route will be to allow Brits to travel to America for the World Cup.

Wizz Air confirmed that despite given the permits to be able to fly between the UK and the US, there were no plans for regular commercial flights.

Instead, it will operate chartered flight for both football teams and supporters to be able to fly to the US during the World Cup season.

Yvonne Moynihan, Managing Director of Wizz Air UK, said it was a “proud and exciting day.”

They added: “Receiving approval to operate between the UK and the United States is a huge milestone for our company.

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“It opens the door to incredible opportunities, particularly for European football teams and supporters travelling across the Atlantic this summer.

“We are ready to deliver exceptional charter experiences and bring fans closer to the action in the United States.” 

The charter packages hope to offer flights for both large groups and individual travellers.

They added: “We are excited to welcome passengers on board and to celebrate this new chapter as we expand our reach across the Atlantic.” 

Brits can look at booking charter flights which are now available on the website.

Wizz Air has never operated transatlantic routes, although does have some long flight options the other way.

The airline’s longest flight is London Gatwick to Jeddah, taking just under seven hours.

However, they did also once offer cheap flights from the UK to the Maldives – although these were cancelled in 2022.

The Polish airline first launched in 2004, with Wizz Air UK starting in 2017.

Wizz Air Malta followed suit, and the short-lived Wizz Air Abu Dhabi was axed last year.

When it comes to World Cup travel, some super fans are dropping thousands of pounds.

Two brothers have revealed plans to spend £20,000 travelling across 25 states to follow the England games.

And flight experts have revealed how to find the cheapest flights to see the World Cup.

TRAVEL influencer NonStop Dan is being slammed online after claiming he’s unable to get home from Singapore due to the Iran war, when economy seats were still available on flights.

The popular YouTuber boasts over 1million subscribers and is known for frequently flying around the world.

However, the star received no sympathy after his latest video went live as viewers called him out for actually being able to get home if he were willing to book a cheaper flight.

The video begins with Dan saying him and his friend Alex are “stranded in Asia” like millions of other travellers are going to be.

He was en route to Bali from Singapore, but he claimed he was unable to keep travelling or get home due to the war in Iran.

However, towards the end of the video Dan noted how there were still “a few flights left in economy”.

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He very clearly said: “There are a few flights left in economy but even those are selling fast.”

Fans took to the video’s comments section to call out the discrepancy, unable to believe he considered himself as stranded just because he wasn’t willing to fly outside of first class.

One viewer said: “Absolutely hilarious that Dan would rather wait two weeks in Singapore without seeing his family rather than dealing with the horror of travelling economy.”

Another said: “You’re saying I would rather stay in a luxury hotel than fly economy.”

A third added: “Swallow your pride and take economy this one time.”

A forth user joked: “My thoughts are with the premium passengers and those in danger of flying economy.”

NonStop Dan, otherwise known as Daniel Goz, first started travelling at the age of 12, and decided to turn his passion for it into a career.

He predominantly reviews different airlines around the world, having flown with over 160 different ones to date.

Though he mostly flies first and business class based on his history of reviews.

Alongside these reviews, Dan provides his fanbase with travel tips as well as tricks on how to make the most out of your points and air miles.

He holds a bachelors degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences combined with General Studies and Humanities from Minerva University.

Minerva is an unconventional place of study which sees its students travel to multiple different countries during their course.

It achieves this through partnering with lots of other institutions worldwide and offering multiple study abroad-style programmes.

AIRLINE crews use secret code words around unsuspecting flyers – including the bizarre-sounding “crotch watch.”

Here’s what it means, and how it helps improve safety on planes.

Flight attendants can be overheard using their own language on the job.

And chances are you’ll be worried they’re insulting you – especially if you also hear them mention “gate lice,” meaning passengers who crowd around the boarding gate before their flight has even been called.

If they mention “crotch watch,” it is simply alluding to the crew checking that passengers have their seatbelts fastened properly before takeoff and landing.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently warned that impatient flyers who unfasten seatbelts before their plane has come to a complete stop at the gate could get hit with $37,000 fines.

Its rule applies during the taxi, takeoff, and landing stages – until the aircraft has safely reached the gate and the illuminated seatbelt sign has been turned off.

The regulation dates back to the 1970s, and was imposed for safety reasons.

Another odd term you might hear is “blue juice.”

This refers to the cleaning liquid used to flush the contents of the plane’s bathrooms.

Other terms, such as ABP, translate to “able-bodied passengers.”

WORK has officially begun on a major expansion project at a regional airport in the UK.

Bristol Airport has started its £30million upgrade with a new two-floor extension to connect the existing terminal and the departure gates.

The airport upgrade will include 17 new shops and restaurants including premium brands and a hidden speakeasy bar in the terminal.

Overall floor space at the airport will nearly double (45 per cent increase) as well.

In the newly created floor space, there will be more seating as well as the new ‘island’ shops, meaning shops will not just be at the edges of the terminal.

When it comes to arrivals, there will be a new reclaim area with an additional baggage carousel.

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When it comes to accessibility, the assisted travel lounge will double in size with new tables.

It will be located near the middle of the departure lounge and also have accessible toilets and a changing places facility.

A baby feeding room will be added as well.

Accessibility will be improved to the immigration area too, with new stairs and lifts.

The transformation to the airport is set to take place over the next three years and is part of a wider £400million investment plan to transform passenger experience at the airport.

By the end of it, the airport will be able to cater for up to 12million passengers, up from 10million currently.

The airport already has completed a number of improvements as well, such as “next generation security” and a new Public Transport Interchange with bus stops, bus bays, a car park and a larger M&S supermarket.

The departure lounge also has a new executive lounge called Escape.

Andrew Goodenough, Infrastructure Director at Bristol Airport said: “We have ambitious plans to transform our customer experience over the next couple of years, and we really appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding while all of these massive improvements are taking place.”

Gerard McNamee, Project Manager at Farrans – the building and engineering firm carrying out the works at the airport – said: “This is an exciting project which will be completed in a live environment in which all passenger routes need to remain open at all times.”

Last year, the airport announced how as part of its upgrade, it hopes to offer flights to the east coast of America and the Middle East in the future.

The airport is also planning to increase the number of flights from 85,990 per year to 100,000, which would mean an additional 35 flights per day in the peak season.

While the airport is planning to keep its night restrictions, it does want to increase night flights to 1,000 a year, which would mean four per night in the peak season.

In other airport news, a major airport could become the second biggest in the UK thanks to huge expansion plans.

Plus, these are the best and worst airports in the UK – with a regional airport coming in number one.

WE’VE all seen the headline of £14 flights plastered across airline websites, social media and publications – but what does a £14 flight actually look like and can you really get it for that price?

When it comes to booking a holiday, we all love a bargain.

And in the UK we aren’t short of budget airlines to choose from, such as Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air.

But the reality is that airlines actually often lose money on £14 flights if you book them without extras.

This is because the flight tends to be listed at cost or below cost to entice people in to go on the website.

According to The Flight Club, Ryanair has previously claimed that each passenger costs them about €34 (£29.55) to fly each way, excluding fuel.

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Broken down, this is about €8 (£6.95) for staff, €8 (£6.95) for airport and handling costs, €6 (£5.21) for travelling in the air space, €8 (£6.95) for aircraft ownership and maintenance and €4 (£3.48) for other expenses.

On the other hand, Wizz Air’s costs are around €52 (£45.19) per passenger per flight and easyJet’s are around €79 (£68.66) (again, both excluding fuel).

When looking at flights, once on an airline’s website you can get hooked in and before you know it you’re adding a return flight and luggage adding up to a figure far from that original £14 fare.

At the moment, the cheapest flight available is with Wizz Air to Gdansk in Poland, costing just £13.99 one-way.

But this is just one of a myriad of ‘cheap’ flights.

Other Wizz Air options include Seville in Spain for £19.99 one-way, or Barcelona and Valencia – also both in Spain – return flights for £40 each.

EasyJet has the second cheapest flight on offer, which is to Nice in France, costing £14.49 one-way.

Other cheap easyJet options include Fuerteventura in Spain for £16.99, Innsbruck in Austria for £16.99, Palma de Mallorca in Spain for £16.99 and Pisa in Italy for £16.99 – all one-way flights.

Ryanair then comes in a touch more expensive, with flights to to Alicante and Barcelona in Spain starting from £14.99 one-way.

The main issue with these flights from the offset? All of them except a handful fly out from London airports.

For those who don’t live in or near the capital, this is where your first additional cost will come in.

Either you spend money travelling to the London airports or you opt to fly from your local airport, but at the sacrifice of your ticket being more expensive.

The second cost on top of the flight price are add-ons.

These include things like cabin bags and hold luggage.

For example, to add cabin luggage to each a Wizz Air, easyJet and Ryanair flight it would cost around an additional £32.97, £17.20 and £43.98 per person, per flight respectively.

These additional costs do also include standard seat selection and ‘speedy’ boarding for each airline.

Though if you want extra legroom, then again that will come at a price.

So if you intended to take anything more than a handbag, your flight will already be costing you a lot more.

Another issue is getting a flight back.

While one-way flights can be a bargain, prices tend to rise when you book a return.

For Gdansk, for example, the return leg costs around £28.99.

So the basic flight costs you more like £42 and with cabin luggage it would sit more around the £75 return mark.

One way to get around this is by having flexible holiday dates, as then you can choose the day with the cheapest return flight.

Other hidden costs include checking in at the airport, which Wizz Air charges €40 (£34.78) to do – more than double the price of the actual flight!

If you are travelling light and able to fit your stuff into a small bag (45cm x 36cm x 20cm for easyJet or 40cm x 30cm x 20cm for Wizz Air and Ryanair), then the cheap flights are worth it.

One centimetre bigger than this though, and it could cost you an additional £70 at the gate.

But if you do choose to fly with just a handbag that fits under the seat in front of you, then perhaps opt for easyJet to make the most of those extra few centimetres allowance.

On the other hand, if you are travelling as a family with extra luggage, who want to sit together and have fixed holiday dates, then maybe this isn’t the best offer.

If we take the £75 per person price for return flights to Gdansk as an example, a family of four, with two children aged over two (under twos don’t need their own plane seat), you could be looking at £300 for return flights.

And that’s before your hotel booking.

The better option for families is to book a package holiday that includes flights.

For example, you could stay in a sea view studio at Albatros Family Hotel in Salou, Costa Dorada in Spain for four nights, flying from London Gatwick on April 20 with four 10kg cabin bags and four 22kg hold suitcases and airport transfers for £573 total or just £143 each.

And for that price, you get hold luggage, which if you booked on a flight separately, it would cost you even more.

Of course, with a holiday package you also get peace of mind in case of things going wrong, as you’ll have ATOL Protection, which helps in cases of your travel operator going bust.

The bottom line?

If you are travelling with a backpack, and live near an airport, go for it.

For those who like to pack more or are travelling as a family, perhaps book a package to avoid the headache.

For more flight tips, here are the new 2026 travel hacks you need to know about.

Plus, our travel team’s best tips for flying with budget airlines from ‘free’ legroom seats to a cheap food hack.

MORE than a thousand flights are still being cancelled a day due to the ongoing Iran conflict.

Countries in the Middle East – such as the UAE, Qatar and Oman – have been dragged into the crisis since last week.

And despite some relief flights now operating, thousands of Brits are still facing cancelled flights.

According to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, 2,263 across the world have been cancelled today.

This includes more than 100 flights to and from the UK today, with 53 departing flights and 54 arriving flights.

The majority are to the UAE, so Dubai and Abu Dhabi, along with Qatar, Israel, Bahrain and Kuwait.

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They warned: “We anticipate cancellations will continue for at least a week, as reported by the airlines.”

Emirates, who operate out of Dubai, is still suspending operations, said they were offering a “reduced flight schedule until further notice”.

They warned: “These flights are open for booking, and we are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority.

“Customers transiting in Dubai will only be accepted for travel if their connecting flight is operating.”

Anyone without a confirmed flight booking is being warned not to travel to the airport.

Qatar Airways has still suspended flights from Doha due to the closure of the Qatari airspace, with another update tomorrow at 6am.

Some limited relief flights are being operated from Muscat to Europe, including a flight to London Heathrow.

However the airline also warns: “Passengers are kindly requested not to proceed to the airport unless they have received an official notification from Qatar Airways for these flights.”

All Etihad Airways flights are suspended until at least 6am tomorrow.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline has launched some limited repositioning and repatriation flights, which has include the UK.

British Airways says they are “unable to operate flights from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv”.

Some limited routes are operating from Muscat.

Virgin Atlantic has relaunched flights from Dubai and Riyadh.

The Sun’s Travel Expert has answered all of your other travel questions.

We’ve also explained the latest safety advice for Cyprus, Turkey and Egypt.

FLYING with United Airlines should be more peaceful after it vowed to boot off selfish passengers who refuse to wear headphones.

Travelers have applauded the rule change after being infuriated by audio blasting from fellow flyers binge-watching videos.

In what is believed to be an industry-first, the carrier has issued a permanent flying ban policy over noise in cabins, according to travel sources.

United Airlines updated its contract of carriage last month to include a section on listening to personal electronic devices.

It now warns that passengers who refuse to don headphones while listening to audio or watching video can be removed from the aircraft.

The threat comes under its “breach of contract of carriage – failure by passenger to comply with the rules of the contract of carriage” section.

United said it could “remove passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content.”

UA also stated it had the “right to refuse transport on a permanent or temporary basis.”

The warning was published under rule 21 – one of 30 rules published for passengers, including service complaints and baggage policies.

“The contract of carriage was updated Feb. 27 to add the headphone language,” a spokeswoman confirmed to The U.S. Sun today.

She said it followed last year’s introduction of Starlink Wi-Fi with connectivity across both personal devices and inflight entertainment screens.

“We’ve always encouraged customers to use headphones when listening to audio content,” she added.

“And our Wi-Fi rules already remind customers to use headphones.

“With the expansion of Starlink, it seemed like a good time to make that even clearer by adding it to the contract of carriage.”

United had “quietly amended its contract of carriage,” commented CBS News yesterday.

“It’s usually only a small number of folks on airplanes who are making noise by not using headphones, so this is a graceful way to handle those folks,” said travel expert Scott Keyes.

He told the broadcaster that he didn’t know of any other major U.S. airline with a similar rule.

United Airlines’ strong line has been widely applauded by flyers and travel experts.

“Some flyers have become such inconsiderate pigs,” said one man.

“If you’re one of those a***holes that blasts audio from your phone without headphones, United Airlines might just ban you from their flight,” warned another on social media.

“This is a rule I can get behind!” wrote one thrilled passenger.

“The sheer volume of people who seem to think I want to hear their phone conversations/video/music in public spaces is only growing.”

United Airlines to ban passengers who don’t wear headphones

The new rule targets travelers using personal electronic devices

Rule 21 Refusal of Transport:

“UA shall have the right to refuse transport on a permanent or temporary basis or shall have the right to remove from the aircraft at any point, any passenger for the following reasons:

“Breach of contract of carriage – failure by passenger to comply with the rules of the contract of carriage.

“Passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content.”

Source: United Airlines

One travel writer, Johnny Jet, said it was one of his “pet peeves.”

He said it had become a “widespread habit” that is “inconsiderate.”

United’s “revised language specifically includes passengers who fail to use headphones,” he noted.

The rule is aimed at flyers who “violate a basic form of etiquette and common courtesy,” reported Simple Flying.

The travel website added that many carriers – including American Airlines – have quiet cabin policies.

But, the difference with United Airlines’ stance is that it’s the first to ban travelers without headphones who blast audio from their devices.

A NUMBER of airlines are starting to relaunch limited flights back to the UK from the Middle East.

Thousands of flights have been cancelled in recent days following the US-Iran conflict, which affected destinations such as Dubai and Doha.

This lead to the closure of both major airports and, being major flight hubs, resulted in hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded abroad.

While some parts of the airspace are still closed, some airlines have confirmed a few flights will start taking off.

Emirates, one of the worst affected airlines being based in Dubai, confirmed a “limited number of passenger repatriation and freighter flights” will take off today.

This includes seven flights to the UK, to London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh.

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However, they warned that this was for passengers with earlier bookings.

Otherwise the airline warned: “All scheduled Emirates flights to and from Dubai remain suspended until 12pm UAE time on March 4, due to airspace closures across the region. 

“Please do not go to the airport unless you have been notified directly by Emirates, or hold a confirmed booking for these flights.”

Virgin Atlantic has also launched relaunched flight from Dubai and Riyadh back to the UK.

They said: “Following our latest assessments and in line with guidance from international aviation authorities, some of our flights are now operating in the region.”

And Etihad confirmed that some repositioning and repatriation flights had taken.

But they also warned that flights were suspended until at least 2pm on March 5.

British Airways is yet to restart flights from the Middle East.

Qatar Airways confirmed flights from Doha are yet to relaunch, with another update to take place on Friday.

They confirmed: “Qatar Airways flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace.

“Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace.

“A further update will be provided on March 6 by 9am Doha time (6am UTC).”

Despite this, hundreds of thousands of people are still stranded abroad.

Tourists in destinations such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bali are being forced to look at alternative routes home due to the ongoing Dubai and Doha closures.

The Sun’s Head of Travel answered all of your questions about any holidays you have planned.

We’ve also explained if you are covered by travel insurance if caught up in the chaos.

HUNDREDS of you, Sun Readers, have reached out to us about your holidays concerns because of the ongoing Iran crisis.

So our Travel Expert – Head of Travel, Lisa Minot – is answering them all for you.

From whether Greece is safe to whether you can cancel your holiday for a refund, here is everything you need to know.

We are going to Cyprus in June and the balance is due by March 17, should we still pay it?

Although many Sun readers are concerned about their holidays to Cyprus following on from the attack on the RAF airbase on the island and the cancellation of flights from British Airways, easyJet and TUI, currently the UK Foreign Office has not issued any warnings about travel to the island.

Unlike the UAE, where the current advises against all but essential travel, Cyprus remains on the safe to travel list.

If you do not pay the balance of your holiday, you face losing the money you have paid to your travel provider so far.

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If the advice were to change, your travel company would have to offer you the chance to amend your travel to a different date or offer you a full refund.

We have had lots of questions about holidays to Cyprus – both Larnaca and Paphos, later in June, July and September and the advice really remains the same.

Unless you have paid a minimal deposit, you should continue to make payments. If you cancel now you could lose money – and discover that holidays are significantly more expensive when you look to book again.

What is important is to make sure you have bought good travel insurance NOW to cover you in the run up to your holiday dates. A lot can happen in the coming months.

Take the time to enquire about what you would be covered for in terms of delays and cancellations as these can vary from policy to policy.

Will this affect holidays in Egypt? We’re due to fly there in May for our honeymoon

While it is very understandable that travellers would be a little nervous of the proximity of Egypt to the current crisis, the popular Egyptian Red Sea resorts of Sharm El Sheikh, Hurgahda and Marsa Alam as well as the majority of Egypt including ancient cities of Cairo and Luxor are NOT under any Foreign Office travel ban.

While no one can predict what is going to happen in the region, it is currently considered safe to travel to these destinations and your tour operator or airline is under no obligation to refund you if you chose not to travel. 

Hurghada and Marsa Alam are hundreds of miles away from the conflict zone and holidays there should not be impacted at all.

I had tipped Egypt as one of the stand-out destinations for British travellers to enjoy 5* luxury at great value prices this year.

Increased flights from the UK and an ever greater number of new luxury resorts mean it still offers guaranteed sunshine for all budgets.

I travelled to Luxor, Hurghada and Marsa Alam in February and could not have felt safer with the Egyptians taking security very seriously.

Is Greece safe to travel, being so close to Turkey?

Yes Greece is safe to travel to – and is not under any UK Foreign Office travel warnings.

The main popular tourist resorts in both Greece and Turkey are many thousands of miles from the current problems in the Middle East.

If you choose to cancel a holiday you have already made payments on you will NOT get your money back as your travel company is under no legal obligation to refund you.

A refund is only triggered if the Foreign Office advises against all travel or all but essential travel.

Again, ensuring you have fully comprehensive travel insurance from the moment you make your booking is really important to give you added protection in the run up to your trip. 

We’ve had questions from Sun readers looking at trips to Corfu and Rhodes this summer – they should be reassured that the chance of holidays to these islands being impacted, while not impossible, is extremely unlikely.

Will travel disruption escalate to the Canary Islands travel from the UK?

While nothing can be guaranteed in these extraordinary times, there is nothing whatsoever to lead me to think that the current crisis will have any impact at all on holidays to the Canary Islands from the UK.

It is understandable that people are worried about the situation, but all of the Canary Islands – along with the rest of Spain – remain on the Foreign Office’s safe to travel list and there is no indication this will change at all. 

There is not any worry about international travel as a whole at the moment and airlines and tour operators take the safety and security of their passengers extremely seriously. 

There should be no issues with travel this summer, where lots of Sun readers are looking forward to holidays.

Are Turkey resorts affected? We have a holiday booked for half-term

No – at present Turkey is not impacted at all by the current situation.

While there are Foreign Office bans on travel to the border between Turkey and Syria, the entire rest of the country is safe to travel to.

The popular coastal resorts of Dalaman, Bodrum, Antalya, Side, Marmaris and more are many thousands of miles from the conflict zone.

As the advice is that it is safe to travel, tour operators and airlines are under no obligation to offer you a refund if you choose not to travel. If you decide to cancel your trip, you will lose any money you have paid.

While some people may feel uneasy, the distances involved mean it is extremely unlikely that anything would impact your holiday.

With all package holidays, you have enhanced protection should the situation change.

If the Foreign Office changes its advice to all but essential travel, you will have extra rights to a refund or amended date.

But right now, that is not necessary as trips to the popular Mediterranean Turkish resorts are safe.

We am due to fly to Dubai March 12-18, having paid £6,000 for a package through Emirates. Do you know where I stand with cancelling?

With the huge popularity of holidays to Dubai – more than 1.47MILLION British travellers headed to the Emirate in 2025 – the Foreign Office now advising against all but essential travel will have a huge impact on those with upcoming holidays.

As the situation remains so uncertain, airlines and travel companies are dealing with upcoming bookings on a rolling basis – prioritising those who are due to travel soonest first.

As of today, passengers with bookings up to March 10 can request a refund directly from Emirates via an online form – and you should expect to receive that refund within a week.

But as your holiday doesn’t depart until March 12 you will have to contact Emirates directly to see if they will allow you to amend your booking or get a refund.

I totally appreciate that this is going to be challenging with many hundreds of thousands of travellers looking to rebook flights and holidays.

Right now, British Airways Holidays are offering rebooking options for those travelling up to March 8 to request a refund.

Those travelling up to March 15 can change their holiday dates or destination free of charge if they depart before March 29.

If you amend to a holiday that is more expensive, you’ll have to pay the difference. If it is cheaper, BA will refund you the difference.

Those travelling after March 15 can change their booking up to 14 days before travel for a fee of £100 or if within 14 days of travel for a fee of £500. 

Virgin Atlantic Holidays has the same options in place for the same dates.

 If you have bought travel insurance – and I really do recommend everyone does this from the MOMENT they book their holiday – it would be a good idea to contact them as well to see if there is anything you can claim for.

Anyone with holidays from April onwards, I recommend keeping an eye on the current travel advice, but do not cancel holidays unless you want to be out of pocket.

My daughter is due to return from Mauritius via Dubai on March 5 with Emirates Airlines. Will this be possible & what are her options?

Emirates has only suspended flights until midnight on March 4.

However this is likely to be extended as they are currently only operating repatriation flights for passengers who are stranded in Dubai.

It is advised for your daughter to contact Emirates and see if there is an alternative way to travel home.

Emirates must provide her with an alternative flight home, or a refund.

However, be aware that if she accepts a refund, your daughter will have to pay for her own alternative flight home which might be quicker, but much more expensive and she will not be able to claim the difference back from Emirates.

Air Mauritius offers direct flights from Mauritius to UK, otherwise airlines with non-Dubai stopovers include Air France (stopover in Paris) and Lufthansa (stopover in Frankfurt).

I have a long-haul holiday planned later this year, stopping in the Middle East. Should I cancel my trip or find another airline?

We have had lots of questions from you about upcoming holidays with stopovers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar – seeing as they’re huge hub airports for Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, this isn’t surprising.

This includes destinations such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bali, China, Vietnam, Australia and Pakistan. 

If you have partly paid for your holidays for any of the above destinations, you must still pay the remaining balance or you will be left out of pocket.

It is only if the UK Foreign Office advises against any travel to these destinations that you will be able to cancel a holiday for a refund.

Unless you are travelling in the next few days, it is likely the holidays will still go ahead.

 If you are wary of booking a stop over in the Middle East, then other popular destinations include Singapore, with Singapore Airlines, or Hong Kong, with Cathay Pacific and Istanbul with Turkish Airlines.

I’m confused about the government advice and where travel companies stand – surely a holiday shouldn’t be classed as “essential travel”?

I appreciate the travel warnings can be slightly confusing, so I’ll break them down for you.

There are two travel warnings from the UK Foreign Office – “against all but essential travel” and “against all travel”.

If the advice is against all travel, package holiday companies and airlines have to give you a refund.

If the advice is against all but essential travel the legal standing is a little more complicated. 

However, most travel companies will offer to refund or amend your booking as they recognise they will not be able to provide you with the trip you purchased due to exceptional circumstances.