Iran crisis: Hundreds of holidaymakers delayed by ‘airspace restrictions’ in the Gulf

Tui blames 36-hour delay on ‘recent political issues in the Middle East’

A Tui flight to Goa was delayed by 36 hours (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Hundreds of holidaymakers have been delayed by 36 hours because of “airspace restrictions” triggered by the Gulf crisis.

Tui flight TOM30 was due to leave Gatwick for Goa in India early on Saturday evening, returning on Sunday. But passengers at both ends of the route were told: “Due to recent political issues in the Middle East, this has resulted in airspace restrictions along the route of your flight.”

The previous week, the flightpath used traversed Iraq from north to south and travelled the length of the Gulf.

Passengers waiting in Goa to fly home were placed in hotels during the delay, which gradually extended to 36 hours.

The flight from Gatwick took off shortly after 7am on Monday, just over 36 hours late.

Tui said it would pay each passenger €600 (£513) in compensation under European air passengers’ rights rules.

It is not clear why the travel firm is making the payment because airspace restrictions count as an “extraordinary circumstance” that excuse compensation.

Steve Bowles from London, who was on a New Year holiday with his family, said: “We all want to get home to our families, jobs, clean clothes and of course the cat.

“The journey is long and we hope for an event-free flight. Everyone in Goa has been so kind and friendly. It is such a lovely place to visit. Such a shame the holiday ends this way.”

East bound: the flight path of the corresponding Tui departure from Gatwick to Goa on 28 December 2019 (Flightaware.com)

Tui has declined to explain the nature of the airspace restrictions. It appears that the Gatwick-Goa flight is tracking over Egypt and avoiding the entire Arabian Peninsula.

Other airlines operating in the region have told The Independent that flights are operating normally. A British Airways spokesperson said: :Our teams are closely monitoring the situation. Flights continue to operate normally."

While the Foreign Office has placed both Iraq and Iran on its no-go list, overflights of both countries continuing.