Ukraine crisis: Air travelers need to know this now

Created: 02/26/2022, 13:02

Civilian air traffic in and out of Ukraine has come to a standstill.

So far, however, intercontinental connections have hardly been affected by the airspace closure.

© Tobias Hase/dpa-tmn

The war in Ukraine brings civilian air traffic across the country's borders to a standstill.

Numerous airlines fly around the Ukrainian national territory.

What does this mean for travelers?

Tübingen/Düsseldorf/Kehl - After Russian troops invaded Ukraine, numerous airlines, including Lufthansa, suspended their Ukraine connections for the time being.

The closure of the airspace over Ukraine also affects overflights, for example to and from Asia.

Airlines have to reschedule their existing flight routes and fly around the Ukrainian national territory.

What impact does this have on travelers' holiday plans or already booked plane tickets?

Experts clarify.

Do I have to reckon with the fact that my holiday plane doesn't go to Asia, for example?

So far, the closure of Ukrainian airspace has had little impact on intercontinental air traffic.

Closing Russian airspace could have far greater consequences.

This would eliminate many of the fastest routes between Europe and Asia, says Michael Trinkwalder from the Tübingen company A3M, a service provider for crisis and early warning information for travel worldwide.

"Russia has threatened in the past to close its airspace to Western airlines," says Trinkwalder.

"This time, as a reaction to renewed massive sanctions, this threat could be put into practice." That would be another heavy blow for the already battered European aviation industry, says the expert.

What happens if the airline cancels my flight after all?

If an airline cancels a flight, under the Air Passenger Rights Ordinance, consumers have the choice between reimbursement of the ticket costs within seven days or alternative transport.

If travelers only find out about the cancellation of the connection at the airport, they are also entitled to free meals, refreshments and two telephone calls.

Passengers are not entitled to financial compensation of 250 to 600 euros, as provided for in the EU regulation for flight cancellations, for example, if the reason for this can be attributed to extraordinary circumstances, says Jan Philipp Stupnanek, travel law expert at the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Center.

Examples include civil unrest and war.

Who do I contact if I have questions about the connection?

For individually booked flights, consumers contact the airline directly, advises travel law expert Stupnanek.

If the flight is a package tour service, it is better for those affected to contact the respective tour operator.

Does the war pose a particular risk for my flight on vacation?

"A particularly dangerous situation can actually generally be denied," because the Ukraine is largely flown around, says travel security analyst Trinkwalder.

"But it is understandable that many passengers have a queasy feeling about the events in Ukraine."

Can I return my ticket free of charge if I have concerns about flying?

"In the case of individually booked flights, there is only a right to free cancellation if it has been contractually agreed," says travel law expert Stupnanek.

Otherwise, the airline is entitled to the agreed remuneration less saved expenses, such as taxes and fees.

Only if the service cannot be provided - for example in the case of a flight or entry ban for the respective passenger - does it not have to be paid for, says the consumer advocate.

Can my airline subsequently make the ticket already booked more expensive because, for example, it incurs higher costs due to the changed route?

In principle, such price adjustments are already possible, says Karolina Wojtal from the European Consumer Center Germany.

However, only if the contract terms contain a price adjustment clause.

Wojtal's experience is that this doesn't really exist with plane tickets.

Trinkwalder estimates that due to the Ukraine war there could be significant flight restrictions and thus foreseeable ticket price increases for flights outside of Eastern Europe.

dpa