The United Arab Emirates has announced an emergency support plan to help passengers stranded by the ongoing Middle East flight crisis.
Thousands of travellers have been unable to fly after several countries closed parts of their airspace due to rising tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel. The situation forced many flights to be cancelled or delayed at major UAE airports, including those in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
To ease the burden on affected passengers, the UAE’s aviation regulator said the government will pay for hotel accommodation, meals and new flight bookings for people stuck in the country because of the disruptions.
Officials estimate that more than 20,000 travellers have already been affected by the changes to flight schedules.
Airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia have temporarily suspended some routes, while a number of international carriers have avoided UAE airspace altogether, worsening the travel backlog.
In Abu Dhabi, authorities have also directed hotels to allow stranded guests to stay longer without charging extra, with the government covering the additional nights.
The support package is meant to ensure that travellers do not suffer extra costs while waiting for flights to resume, as the regional air travel situation remains uncertain.
