Hearing a lot about flight disruption this summer? Know the facts so you can travel with confidence.

While the unprecedented airspace closures across the Gulf have impacted flights travelling to and transiting through the region, there are five immediate steps travellers can take when dealing with flight cancellations to regain control:

1. Contact your insurance provider to understand what is covered.

2. Check your airline’s policies as they might be able to offer a free rebooking or refund.

3. If you choose to rebook yourself, lean on Skyscanner’s smart booking options. Tools such as Price Alerts and Whole Month Search allow you to find the cheapest alternatives, so you can book the best option at the best price.

4. If your disruption takes place in India, refer to the AirSewa portal at airsewa.gov.in for guidance on your passenger rights and to lodge a complaint. Also refer to the Ministry of Civil Aviation's Passenger Charter of Rights for guidance on what airlines are required to provide. If you're impacted outside of India, check what your entitlements are, as these vary by country.

5. Keep records of all costs incurred as airlines sometimes cover expenses such as overnight accommodation, transport to and from the airport, and meals.

Our guide on what to do if your flight is cancelled covers these in more detail.

There are also measures that travellers can take pre-trip to safeguard their booking:

Travellers may have questions surrounding global jet fuel shortages and how it may impact summer holiday plans for Indian travellers.

With Prime Minister Modi urging Indians to put overseas trips on hold for the next year due to rising fuel prices, now could be a good time to explore what's closer to home.

What's happening with flight disruptions and fuel supply in India

As tensions in West Asia continue to affect global oil supply chains, India's aviation regulator, the DGCA, has been working with carriers to manage fuel supply and minimise travel disruption to passengers.

These measures give airlines flexibility in scheduling, helping them manage fuel supply more efficiently while maintaining as many flights as possible.

While some routes have been affected, particularly those crossing West Asian airspace, airlines have moved quickly to reroute flights and minimise disruption.

Understanding how major carriers are responding can help you stay ahead of potential disruption.

Note: Compensation rules differ for force majeure events such as the current West Asia airspace disruptions, where airlines are not obligated to pay additional compensation — though refunds and rebooking must still be offered.

For further information on compensation for flight cancellations, check the AirSewa passenger charter of rights.

• Contact hotel, car hire and activity providers as early as possible, once delays or cancellations have been confirmed by your airline.

• Confirm grace periods and refund policies to understand your options.

• Keep receipts for your insurance provider.

• Document disruption evidence in case the hotel, car hire or activity provider requires this to waive fees or refund.

This cheatsheet breaks down how travellers can easily solve for some of the common causes of travel disruption:

Travel disruption occur for a number of reasons including flight delays and cancellations due to:

• Security risks (i.e. severe weather conditions, air traffic congestions, etc.)

• Operational glitches

• Logistical challenges (i.e. strike action, the introduction of new travel regulations, airline insolvency).

Disruption to flight schedules happen throughout the year but recently, the geopolitical situation in the Gulf region has caused widespread cancellations of flights which has impacted routes travelling to and from the area, as well as those transiting through the airspace.

The situation has raised questions around air fuel shortages, resulting in a number of proactive measures being introduced by airlines. These include, cutting down specific routes, increasing fare prices or introducing surcharges on flight tickets in response.

Whether you’re impacted by commonly occurring reasons or by unprecedented global events, flight cancellations can often orchestrate chaos. And while no-one wants to deal with flight cancellations, knowing how to is a powerful tool against eliminating any hassle and anxiety if your flight is affected.

Five essential steps you should take:

1. Know your rights based on what your insurance provider will cover. 

2. Know your rights based on your airline’s policies, especially as they might be able to offer a free rebooking.

3. If you choose not to opt for rebooking options the airline can offer, check if you’re eligible for a refund, and rebook yourself using Skyscanner’s smart booking options (such as Price Alerts and Whole Month Search) to find the cheapest alternatives.

4. If you’re impacted outside of India, check what your entitlement rights from the airline are as these can vary in other destinations

5. Make sure you keep records of all costs incurred as airlines are sometimes entitled to cover things like overnight accommodation, transport to and from the airport and meals

Traveller rights vary depending on the airline, route, timing of the disruption and local regulations. In many cases, passengers may be entitled to rebooking support, refunds or compensation, though rules differ depending on the cause of the disruption. 

AirSewa offers the following guidance:

Note: These rights were valid as of May 2026.

You can find more information on what to do when your flight gets cancelled in our dedicated guide.

When a flight schedule changes, travellers are usually notified after the airline or airport has confirmed the delay or cancellation. However, there can be some prior signs that can signal whether your flight is likely to be impacted. These include news of route disruption, airport notices, airline alerts, weather warnings, strikes or official travel updates.

The best way to stay on top of flight schedule changes is to:

• Check directly with your airline via their website or app 

• Monitor communication with the carrier via email, SMS or app notification

• Get live tracking updates with Skyscanner’s airport departure boards

• Check official government or airport advice

Heed government advice when planning your upcoming travels. This may include cancelling or rescheduling your travels at the recommendation of official advice.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has been closely monitoring the situation and has confirmed it is working with airlines to minimise disruption and prevent undue fare increases. The Ministry has advised all airlines to maintain transparent communication with passengers and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements on refunds, rescheduling, and passenger assistance. While data from aviation analysts Cirium shows around 13,000 flights were cancelled globally in May, this represents less than 2% of global capacity — and most disruptions are driven by rising fuel costs and airspace rerouting rather than an outright shortage.

If you wish to travel and your flight is still showing as scheduled, the advice is to check directly with your airline before making any changes to your booking.

Airline insolvency happens when an airline can no longer continue operating or meet its financial obligations. In some cases, this can result in cancelled flights, suspended routes or difficulty accessing refunds and rebooking support.

While these remain relatively uncommon,in the event that an airline you have a booking with does stop operating, these following steps can help alleviate pressure quickly .

• Check official airline communications for updates on cancellations and reimbursement processes

• Contact your travel insurer and payment provider to understand whether you may be eligible for protection or chargeback support

• Use Skyscanner’s flight search to easily compare replacement flight options across multiple airlines, routes and booking providers if you need to reorganise your journey.

Travel insurance offers protection against a range of issues. This may include flight cancellations, flight delays or airline solvency depending on your policy. However, be aware that exemptions may apply in certain situations, particularly for events linked to conflict, government travel restrictions or airspace closures. 

When facing travel disruption, review your policy to quickly gain an understanding of your rights and get in touch with your provider as soon as possible to get clarity of coverage and actionable steps, such as keeping a copy and evidence of expenses. 

If you’re looking to buy travel insurance, we’ve got the answers to your questions in our guide.

• Know your legal rights if you’re subject to flight cancellations. See our guide on flight cancellations to understand where you stand.

• Use Skyscanner’s nearby airports filter to expand search to alternative airports for more options

• Utilise Whole Month Search to find the cheapest flights if you have flexibility with dates

You can make your trip more flexible by using tools that help you adapt quickly when plans change. Skyscanner makes it easy to compare flights, hotels, car hire and train journeys all in one place, so if you need to rebook or change direction unexpectedly, you can quickly find the best option at the best price. Features like Price Alerts, Drops, flexible ticket filters and multi-transport search tools give travellers more control and confidence when booking.