Crystal Travel | Travel News | April 2026
Major airlines are offering fee-free changes and full refunds amid ongoing airspace chaos. Here's the full breakdown.
Ongoing airspace restrictions across the Middle East have caused widespread flight cancellations and significant disruption for thousands of British travellers. What began as a regional crisis has quickly snowballed into one of the most disruptive periods for global aviation in recent memory, with key flight corridors over Iran, Iraq, and parts of the Gulf either closed or severely restricted.
The knock-on effect has been felt right across the board, from long-haul routes between Europe and Asia to popular leisure destinations across the Gulf. Flights are being cancelled at short notice, rerouted over longer corridors, and in many cases, delayed without a clear timeline for resolution.
The silver lining? Most major carriers have moved quickly to introduce flexible rebooking and refund policies, giving affected passengers genuine options rather than leaving them out of pocket. If you've got a booking coming up, here's exactly what each airline is currently offering.
Passengers with departures up to 15 June 2026 are eligible for one free date change or a full refund. Rebooking must be completed by 31 October 2026, within the same seasonality. Qatar Airways is also gradually restoring its schedule, with plans to serve over 120 destinations by mid-May.
Etihad is offering one complimentary date change or full refund for passengers on flights departing up to 15 April 2026. Any rebooking must be completed by 15 May 2026. The airline has been operating a limited schedule and is gradually increasing services from Abu Dhabi.
One free change or full refund is available for departures up to 15 April 2026. The rebooking window runs until 30 June 2026, giving passengers a reasonable amount of time to sort out alternative arrangements.
Departures up to 31 May 2026 qualify for one free change or full refund, with the rebooking deadline also set at 31 May 2026. Emirates has resumed a limited number of flights and advises passengers to check their flight status regularly before travelling to the airport.
Turkish Airlines has rolled out a flexible travel policy covering departures up to 31 May 2026 on selected Middle East routes, specifically those serving the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. One free change is permitted, with rebooking available until 10 July 2026 — one of the more generous windows currently on offer.
BA is offering one free amendment for passengers travelling up to 1 June 2026, with rebooking permitted within the ticket's existing validity period. Unusually, the airline is also allowing route changes of up to 750 miles, which could prove handy for those needing to adjust their destination rather than cancel altogether.
Flexible options are available for passengers booked on Virgin Atlantic's Dubai and Riyadh routes who were due to travel in February and March 2026. Rebooking via partner airlines is on the table, and refunds can be requested under the airline's schedule change policy.
Full refunds are available for Kuwait Airways passengers with departures up to 15 April 2026, in line with its current flexible refund policy.
If your travel falls within any of the windows listed above, act sooner rather than later. Alternative flight availability is tightening quickly as demand for seats on operating services continues to rise. Get in touch with the travel expert team at Crystal Travel, who can help you navigate your options and secure the best available alternatives.
It's also worth reviewing your travel insurance policy. Cover for airspace closures and government travel advisories varies considerably between providers — some budget policies exclude conflict-related disruption entirely, so check the small print before assuming you're protected.
The situation remains fluid, so keep a close eye on your airline's official website and social channels for the latest updates before heading to the airport.
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