Editorial Team
Our content team
7 min read
More than 3,400 flights grounded. Around 30,000 German travellers affected. And you're staring at your phone right now wondering if your trip is still happening.
It probably isn't.
Since late February 2026, the Middle East conflict has brought air traffic across the region to a near standstill. According to airliners.de, seven major airports have seen mass cancellations. Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Tel Aviv. If your flight from Germany got cancelled due to a war zone or airspace closure, you do have rights. But airlines won't spell them out for you, which is exactly why you need to know them.
Whether your flight was cancelled outright or you're wondering whether to cancel yourself first: there's a clear legal difference, and that difference costs real money.
Which Flights Are Currently Affected?
The Lufthansa Group has suspended the following routes from Germany as of mid-March 2026:
Tel Aviv: suspended until at least April 2
Beirut and Amman: until March 28
Tehran: until April 30
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Erbil, Dammam: partially until mid-March
This covers not just Lufthansa, but Austrian Airlines, Swiss, and Brussels Airlines too. If you're unsure about your Lufthansa carry-on rules before rebooking, now's a good time to check.
And it goes well beyond Israel. Cancellation rates at Gulf hubs tell the real story: Doha 94%, Bahrain 100%, Abu Dhabi 73%. If you booked a connecting flight through the region, you're caught up in it just as much as someone flying direct. Many people don't realize this until they're already at the airport.
Qatar Airways set up rescue flights for stranded passengers, including routes from Muscat to Berlin and Riyadh to Frankfurt. Only with official notification, though.
The Most Important Thing: Don't Cancel Yourself
I get it. You see the news, you feel uneasy, and your instinct says: better cancel now before things get worse.
Don't.
According to McFlight, cancelling on your own means losing your right to care obligations (hotel, meals, communication costs) and makes it easier for the airline to deny your claim. Passengers who cancel their own war zone flight lose important refund entitlements and end up in a much weaker legal position. Wait for the airline's official cancellation. It's worth the wait.
Your Passenger Rights: No Flat Compensation, But Still Money Back
Passenger rights in war zones: what applies and what doesn't.
There's a big misconception here. Honestly, it's probably the most common one right now. Many people think: flight cancelled due to a war zone, so I'm owed 600 euros under EU rules. That's not how it works with armed conflicts.
According to ADAC, war and airspace closures count as extraordinary circumstances. The flat compensation payment (250 to 600 euros) doesn't apply. That sounds harsh, but you're not walking away empty-handed.
What you are actually entitled to:
Full ticket refund or free rebooking
Care obligations (food, drinks, hotel if needed overnight)
Communication costs (phone calls, emails to sort things out)
Package holiday travellers get even stronger protection. The German Consumer Association confirms: when the German Foreign Office issues a travel warning, you can cancel your package trip free of charge under Section 651h of the German Civil Code. No fees, no arguments.
Lufthansa customers can request their refund and compensation directly through the Lufthansa website under "My Bookings." Use the chat if the hotline is overwhelmed.
Your Luggage: What Most People Forget
Then there's your suitcase. If you've already checked it in and the flight gets cancelled, what actually happens to it?
If you've already checked your bag and the flight is cancelled, go to the airline counter immediately and fill out a PIR (Property Irregularity Report). That sounds bureaucratic. It is. But that one form is the difference between getting your emergency expenses reimbursed and being stuck with the bill yourself. Without it, you have no proof.
According to ADAC, emergency purchases (clothing, toiletries) can be reimbursed up to approximately 2,000 euros under the Montreal Convention. This applies regardless of extraordinary circumstances.
Read what really happens when your luggage doesn't arrive in our detailed first-hand report.
Picture this: you're stuck at Dubai International, your connecting flight is gone, and your suitcase is somewhere between Frankfurt and a baggage carousel you can't access. You need basics. Not a full wardrobe, just enough to function. The Montreal Convention exists precisely for this situation.
My advice: travel documents, medication, and valuables always go in your carry-on. Always. No exceptions.
And if you travel regularly, a GPS tracker for your luggage is genuinely useful in situations like this. In my experience, knowing where your bag is gives you one less thing to panic about (Apple AirTag (1. Generation) 4er Pack - Finde und behalte Deine Sachen im Blick: Schlüssel, Geldbörsen, Gepäck, Rucksäcke und mehr). A power bank (Anker Nano Powerbank, 10.000mAh Externer Akku mit 70cm Anker InstaCord Einzugskabel, 45W Max Kompakter Akku, Smart-Display) belongs in your carry-on too, especially when you might be stuck for hours and need to reach the airline hotline without your battery dying at 3%.
Apple AirTag (1. Generation) 4er Pack - Finde und behalte Deine Sachen im Blick: Schlüssel, Geldbörsen, Gepäck, Rucksäcke und mehr
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Step by Step: What to Do Right Now
If your flight was cancelled due to the Middle East conflict or another war zone, work through these steps:
- Wait. Don't cancel yourself. Wait for the airline's official cancellation notice.
- Request your refund. Do it online through the airline website. Lufthansa: go to "My Bookings." If you're rebooking onto a different flight, check the rebooking and baggage fees (Coming Soon) first, because they vary a lot between airlines.
- Document everything. Save screenshots of cancellation emails, receipts for meals, hotel, transport. Everything.
- File a PIR. If your luggage is affected, do this at the counter immediately. Keep your baggage tags.
- Register with the German Foreign Office. Use the ELEFAND crisis list if you're currently abroad.
One more thing: don't show up at the airport without official confirmation from your airline. I know it feels like doing something is better than nothing, but trust me, it isn't. That wait at the check-in desk will be one of the most pointless hours of your life.
If you still have questions, here are the ones I hear most often:
