How Iran war could affect your Easter holiday: Cyprus bookings slump, Virgin cancels ALL flights to Dubai and Foreign Office issues new travel advice to UAE (but Ryanair boss insists business is booming)
Many Britons' Easter holiday break plans are at risk due to the ongoing Iran war - as Cyprus bookings slump and flights to popular resorts such as Dubai are scrapped.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has insisted that trips to elsewhere in Europe are booming as Middle Eastern states suffer under Iranian bombardments.
But there have been warnings of soaring airline prices as a knock-on effect of the current conflict - while hoped-for destinations remain no-go zones.
At the moment the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of Turkey 'within 10km of the border with Syria due to fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism'.
As for Dubai, which has seen several missile and drone attacks, the government is advising against all but essential travel to the United Arab Emirates.
The latest Government advice on Dubai and the rest of the UAE was updated today.
Aspiring visitors are told: 'There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets.'
And Virgin Atlantic has now decided to suspend all journeys between London, Dubai and Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh - while British Airways is not operating services from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv.
Britons planning to jet off for holidays over the Easter break may need to reassess their plans given the situation in the Middle East. Pictured: Smoke from Dubai International Airport
The Palm Jumeirah hotel in Dubai was engulfed in flames after being hit by an Iranian suicide drone on February 28
All potential flights out of Dubai are currently operating on a limited schedule, with its international airport only partially reopened on March 7.
British expats and holidaymakers alike have been telling of the panic to get out of Dubai as the UAE was among the Gulf states hit by Iranian missiles.
The ongoing attacks came in response to US- and Israeli-led strikes that began on Saturday last week and which killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said today: 'The safety and security of our customers and our people is always our top priority. Following airport and airspace closures in Dubai and Riyadh on Saturday 7 March, we made the decision to cancel our London Heathrow, Dubai and Riyadh rotations.
'We have strict criteria that must be met for a flight to continue into a region, and our criteria for proceeding to Dubai and Riyadh were not met, resulting in the safe diversion of these flights.'
The airline said it had been 'repatriating as many of our customers and people as possible'.
Latest assessments meant a flight from Heathrow and Dubai on Sunday and another making the return trip today had been cancelled - and there will be no more between the two destinations until March 28.
The spokesperson added: 'Flying to Riyadh is paused for the next two weeks, and will be assessed on an ongoing basis.
'We’d like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding and will contact any affected customers to discuss their options.
'We continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East with ongoing dynamic assessments and active changes to our flight routings based on the latest information and guidance, where required.'
Meanwhile, Cyprus - despite being popular with Brits for its sunny beaches and range of resorts - is also seeing people deciding to stay away for now.
The destination is currently on the safe to travel list and the government has only updated its guidance to mention the 'Suspected drone impact at RAF Akrotiri' on March 2.
But travellers may wish to avoid the island as the situation develops - and just last week around 60 flights to and from Cyprus were cancelled after the drone incident. Operations resumed over the weekend.
Aside from safety warnings, the rising cost of jet fuel as a result of the conflict is set to affect flights too.
Figures as of March 6 show how European jet fuel costs have increased by 81 per cent, from $830 (£619) per tonne to $1,500 (£1,118).
The price of flights over Easter could be affected too, with shortages expected to be impacting routes in a matter of weeks.
James Noel-Beswick, head of commodities at market intelligence firm Sparta Commodities, told the i Paper: 'If it goes on beyond, let's say three or four weeks, then that picture for European holiday costs really rapidly changes.
'It's really a situation that is weeks, more than months, away.
'Typically, fuel makes up 20 to 30 per cent of airline operating costs, and therefore their prices.'
Hotels in Cyprus have already seen a noticeable impact on Easter bookings and one establishment told the publication they were 'about 10 per cent behind' in April compared to last year.
And British Airways has announced a present 'limited service' to Cyprus's third largest city Larnaca.
On top of that, airlines have seen a surge in bookings to European destinations over Easter - as Brits opt for holidays closer to home.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said: 'We've seen certainly there's a big collapse in bookings to the Middle East and a big surge in bookings on short haul airlines within Europe, particularly I think the focus is on the Easter holidays,'
'But I don't think it has any fundamental change or impact on longer term booking trends into May, June, July.'
This demand for European holidays is sure to drive the price of flights up - but the budget airline insists its prices won't be affected by rising fuel costs.
O'Leary continued: 'We're hedged for the next 12 months out to March 2027 at about $67 per barrel. So it won't affect our costs and it won't affect our low fares.'
Those who have already booked trips to destinations like Turkey and Dubai for their Easter break before the conflict unfolded could need to check their travel insurance, as many policies do not cover issues relating to war or conflict.
For areas where the FCDO advises against travel, the Foreign Office warns not following the advice could invalidate your insurance.
It says: 'Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.'
If you have booked a trip and no longer wish to travel, the Association of British Insurers recommends contacting your airline and accommodation providers to see what they can offer first, as well as speaking to your travel insurance provider.
Travel money expert Hannah Mayfield, who is working alongside specialist travel insurance company PayingTooMuch, advises: 'When travel feels more uncertain making sure you have the right level of cover for your trip becomes even more important, so you are less likely to face unexpected costs.
'Booking early, staying flexible with travel dates, comparing travel insurance policies and prices for flights can make a noticeable difference to the overall cost of a trip.
'Most standard travel insurance policies don’t cover acts of war, so conflicts itself may not typically have a direct impact on premiums.
'However, travellers should always check their policy details carefully, so they understand exactly what is and isn’t covered.
'Consider getting a policy that offers additional cover for travel disruptions which can offer another layer of protection in situations where official government travel advice changes and costs can’t be recovered elsewhere.
'It’s also worth noting that travel insurance does not cover events that are already known at the time the policy is purchased.'
British Airways has cancelled flights departing to Amman, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Doha and Tel Aviv up to and including 12 March and their subsequent return flights.
The airline is concentrating efforts on flights out of Muscat in Oman - only for 'BA customers who are in Oman or the UAE with an existing booking'.
And the first government flight out of Dubai is not expected until early next week, following the two official services from Muscat to have so far taken place.
The Foreign Office has launched a booking portal for Britons in Dubai wishing to fly back, promising the most vulnerable would be prioritised.
British AIrways, whose flights from Oman are not UK Government charter flights, said: 'We remain unable to operate flights from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv.
'We have scheduled further flights from Muscat to London Heathrow departing at 02:30 local time on 9, 10, 11 and 12 March.
'These flights are for BA customers in Oman or the UAE with an existing booking. Our teams will also be in touch with customers directly via email.
'To further support customers, we’ve added additional capacity from Singapore and Bangkok next week.'
The airline told customers: 'Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through this ever‑changing situation.'
