Flight cancellation rights as Iran War cancels another 20,000 European trips

Millions of people across the world could well have their summer holiday plans scuppered due to the ongoing war between the US and Iran.

While it's not the primary concern of the conflict, which is currently teetering on an uncertain ceasefire, the travel business has been heavily affected ever since the US and Israel launched strikes against the Middle Eastern country at the end of February.

The main reason for this is Iran's tactic to block the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping lane where a large percentage of the world's oil passes through every day.

Although it was briefly unblocked as part of the last minute ceasefire deal, Iran has once again stopped ships from passing through in response to America's own naval blockade, which is forcing the price of fuel well up.

As with most wars, it is the common people who suffer the most while the elite continue to prosper, and we've probably all had to pay a rather excessive fee to fill up our cars in recent months.

And it's the exact same scenario with flight companies, who are less than happy about the extra millions they've been forced to shell out in recent weeks, to the extent where flights are now being cancelled to ensure that they don't lose out.

Around 500 Aer Lingus flights were cut recently for 'maintenance' after an expert warned that Europe could run out of fuel in a matter of weeks, and Germain air line Lufthansa has now followed suit, confirming that it was grounding 20,000 short-haul flights from its schedule through to October.

Lufthansa is the latest company to reduce flights (Getty Stock)

The reductions will result in 'jet fuel savings of more than 40,000 metric tons,' the company said. More flight cancellations will be announced by late April or early May, it added.

“For the flights scheduled in the summer timetable, the Group expects a largely stable fuel supply. Lufthansa is pursuing a range of measures to this end, including the physical procurement of jet fuel as well as price hedging,” Lufthansa said in its statement.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary also suggested earlier this month that his company could soon be forced to cancel flights, saying: "We’re all facing an unknown scenario. And we are certainly looking at maybe having to cancel 5 per cent to 10 per cent of flights through May, June and July.”

In most cases you should get a refund if your flight is cancelled (Getty Stock)

So, if you are unfortunate enough to have your flight cancelled this summer, what are your rights?

Well, if your flight is cancelled, the good news is that you have a legal right to either a full refund or a replacement flight to get you to your destination, although there may well not be too many options available on that front.

"Contact the airline – this needs to be the airline operating the flight, even if you booked it through another airline. The airline’s customer services department will usually help," Citizens Advice says.

"Be ready to give all your flight details and booking reference numbers. Write your claim – say what went wrong and what you want the airline to give you. Include copies (not originals) of your tickets and any receipts.

"Keep records – keep copies of your claim and any response from the airline. Take notes if you speak to anyone from the airline - this could be useful if you decide to take your claim further."

However, it seems as if this only applies if you are leaving from or travelling to the UK, leaving from the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland, or arriving in the EU from a UK airline.

We all know that's a bit of a hassle, which is just another reason why most sensible folks are desperate for this war to be over as soon as possible.