Current Middle East Conflict & impact for travellers

Following the large-scale military events that have occurred in the region since 28 February 2026, the security context in the Middle East is marked by significant instability.

Current tensions are causing major disruptions to airspace and transportation infrastructure in numerous countries of the region.

Cancelling your trip due to FCDO advice

All ABTA Travel Insurance policies include cancellation cover, but the level of cover and maximum limits depend on the policy you purchased.

If your package holiday is cancelled because the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has advised against travel to your destination, your tour operator is responsible for the cancellation. You should contact them first to arrange a refund or an alternative holiday. Travel insurance may cover any costs you cannot recover from your tour operator.

If the FCDO changes its travel advice after you have booked your trip or bought your insurance and this means you can no longer travel, you may be able to claim for cancellation under your policy. Any claim would be subject to the terms, conditions and limits of your policy.

If your trip is still some time away, the situation may change, so you may need to wait until closer to your departure date before a cancellation decision is made. Cover can only be considered if you cancel within 21 days prior to departure.

For trips that are not part of a package holiday, you should contact the airline, accommodation provider or other suppliers first to request a refund or alternative arrangements. If you are un-able to recover some or all of your pre-paid costs, you may be able to submit a claim under your travel insurance for the unrecoverable cancellation charges, subject to the terms, condi-tions and limits of your policy.

Travelling despite FCDO advice

If you decide to travel after the FCDO has advised against all but essential travel, some policies may still provide emergency medical cover if your trip is considered essential. However, if the FCDO advises against all travel, any claims relating directly to that advice will not be covered. Customers should always check their individual policy wording before travelling to understand what is included.

Already abroad when FCDO advice changes

If you are already abroad and travel advice changes to “all but essential travel,” ABTA Travel Insurance will extend your policy automatically if your return is delayed as a result.

For upcoming Package holiday cancellations or alterations

If your upcoming trip is cancelled or altered, the tour operator is responsible for arranging alternative flights, accommodation, or refunds under UK and EU regulations. Travel insurance may cover additional unrecoverable costs, such as pre-paid car parking or other travel services, depending on your policy level.

Stranded abroad due to flight disruptions

If you are stranded abroad because of a flight delay or cancellation, UK and EU based airlines are responsible under UK/EU passenger rights to provide assistance. This may include rerouting to your destination or back home, and care such as accommodation and meals where necessary. If you’ve booked with an airline not based in the UK/EU, check there policy and contact them to see how they can assist you.

If you booked flights separately (not as part of a package holiday) and your flight is cancelled, you should contact the airline first to arrange a refund or alternative flight.

Travel insurance may cover additional unavoidable costs that you cannot recover from the air-line or any other provider, such as extra accommodation, meals or essential medication, sub-ject to the terms, conditions and limits of your policy.

What if I’m abroad and need extra medication due to delays?

If your return home is delayed and you need additional medication while you are abroad, ABTA Travel Insurance provides access to the Doctor Please service to help you get the support you need. Doctor Please offers online consultations with qualified doctors who can assess your condition and, if appropriate, issue a prescription. In many cases, medication can then be delivered directly to you or collected at a local pharmacy.

We recommend downloading and using the Doctor Please app before you travel and referring to their guidance while abroad. Full details on how the service works, including how to register and access consultations, are available here: https://www.abtatravelinsurance.com/blogs-and-info/pack-the-doctor-please-app-before-you-go

If you have a more serious medical concern or require urgent attention, you should contact the 24-hour emergency medical assistance team on 0203 093 0768, they can provide immediate guidance and help coordinate care if needed.

Please remember that all claims remain subject to the terms, conditions, and limits of your individual policy wording.

For further information if you are currently abroad or plan to travel to or via the Middle East please visit Advice on Middle East travel disruption | News | ABTA

Extended Travel Insurance Refunds

If you purchased travel insurance but were unable to travel due to flight disruptions, you may be eligible for a refund of your premium.

There’s no fixed deadline to make a claim, you can submit a request up until your scheduled departure date, provided you can show that your trip was cancelled as a result of the Middle East conflict.