Due to security restrictions following the closure of the airspace of some Middle Eastern countries in connection with Saturday’s attacks by Israel and the US on Iran and subsequent retaliatory Iranian attacks in the area, Saturday flights to Dubai from Václav Havel Airport in Prague were cancelled. According to the Prague airport website, most flights to Tel Aviv are canceled on Saturdays and Sundays.
Iran, Israel and Iraq announced on Saturday morning that they were closing their airspace until further notice, followed by Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Later, Dubai also announced the suspension of all flights – at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) – until further notice.
“Passengers are advised not to go to the airport at this time and to contact their airlines directly for the latest information on their flights,” Dubai authorities said on the X network.
According to the Pope, there are several thousand Czechs in the countries of the Middle East. “It certainly affects several thousand people, whether those who are directly in those destinations, or destinations that are connected via the Arab Emirates or Qatar,” the Pope told ČTK.
He also stated that travel agencies have a legal obligation to provide the necessary assistance to Czech citizens in these destinations for a period of three days. “We would certainly comply with that, and we will see how the situation will develop,” Papež added for ČTK.
According to him, they will try to take care of clients within the possibilities they have, and continuously evaluate the situation according to the development of events and the opening of air corridors. “It is difficult to predict what will happen now,” he added, adding that ACK is monitoring the situation and will decide on further steps and necessary assistance for its clients based on developments.
Travel agencies offer clients compensation
According to spokesman Jan Bezděk from the DER Touristik group, which includes travel agencies Fischer whether Exim Toursthe current situation concerns the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman.
“The flights that were supposed to depart today, of course, did not depart. It remains to be seen how things will turn out. Regarding the nearest departures, we will respect the actions of the airlines. But at the same time, we do not want, for example, after the airspace is opened, people will fly there in fear of losing money otherwise. We have already contacted clients up to and including Tuesday, saying that regardless of whether it will be possible to depart or not, we will offer them another alternative or a refund money,” he told Novinkám.
Speaker Čedok Klára Divíšková told Fairpress that the travel agency currently registers two groups of clients in the United Arab Emirates. “We are continuously monitoring the situation, including in connection with the possible restriction or closure of the flight area. We have informed clients as a precaution and asked them to register in the DROZD system. We are in close contact with foreign partners and are waiting for official information and recommendations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” she said.
“We currently offer clients who would contact us in this regard the option of changing their trip free of charge, or canceling it. At the moment, these measures mainly concern departures planned until March 3. We continue to monitor the situation carefully and will respond according to further developments,” added Divíšková.
Simona Fischerová, spokeswoman of the travel agency Blue Style pro Fairpress stated that they are currently monitoring the situation in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Association of Travel Agencies. The situation concerns hundreds of clients.
“The safety of clients comes first. We understand the concerns of those who have a vacation planned in the coming days. We will offer compensation, such as free cancellation, to clients who are scheduled to depart by Tuesday, March 3 and are concerned about their departure. Clients who are currently at the destination are safe in hotels and in contact with delegates,” Fischerová told Novinkám.
