Is it safe to travel to Qatar? Latest flight advice including for Doha airport amid Israel-Iran conflict
YESTERDAY saw Qatar's airspace close as a result of ongoing tensions in the Middle East, despite the country being home to one of the world's busiest airports.
With its airspace now open again and flights resuming, here is everything you need to know about travelling to - or through -
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Doha is home to the world's second-largest airport
Credit: Alamy
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Many travellers are stranded as Hamad International Airport experiences delays
Credit: Reuters
What is happening in Qatar?
On Monday June 23, Iran launched a missile strike on a US airbase in Qatar.
This was in retaliation to a US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities that had been carried out amid
Qatari airspace was closed after flares were seen over the capital city,
The US Embassy in Qatar also issued a
Read more on travel warnings
Both the US and UK have since lifted the orders.
Is it safe to visit Qatar or transit through Doha?
A ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump this morning, but it has now been broken.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
(FCDO) has
updated its
While it does not explicitly advise against travel to the area, it warns that there are risks that could warrant another closure of airspace.
Most read in News Travel
The FCDO says: "Ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Iran have the potential to deteriorate further, quickly and without warning including since US military strikes against Iran on 22 June.
There is a possibility of travel disruption, including short-notice airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights, and other unanticipated travel impacts."
UK flight heading to Doha forced to turn back after Iran's missile strike at Qatar
It also advises the following the instructions of local authorities and reading the FCDO guidelines on what to do if you're affected by a crisis abroad.
Have flights been cancelled to Doha airport?
Thousands of travellers have been affected by flight cancellations after
A Doha-bound
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Qatar Airways has released a statement for passengers
Credit: Alamy
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Qatari airspace closed after Iran launched missile strikes on a US air base
Credit: Reuters
The airline is now restoring its schedule but warns that possible disruptions could last until June 26.
Arrivals are experiencing an average delay of 5 hours, and some flights are cancelled.
Travellers should check with relevant airlines for the latest updates before flying.
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The FCDO has not advised against all travel to Qatar
Credit: Getty
Can I cancel my trip?
As the FCDO has not advised Brits not to travel, it is unlikely that you will be able to claim a full refund through travel insurance.
However, in a statement provided to The Sun, Qatar Airways said: "Those who wish to change their travel dates may do so without paying a fee until 15 July 2025.
"Customers who no longer wish to travel can opt to receive a refund of the unused value of their tickets, without any cancellation fee being applied."
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The temporary closure of Qatari airspace has caused travel disruption
Credit: Michael Schofield
Flight compensation rules
A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
If you're flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.
You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven't used yet.
So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.
But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.
When am I not entitled to compensation?
The airline doesn't have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.
Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation.
Some airlines may stretch the definition of "extraordinary circumstances" but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?
If you can't claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.
Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.
Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.
If your flight is cancelled entirely, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance.
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The Irish Sun
27 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Welcome to ‘bonkers' beach', the seaside paradise for swingers where Brits romp on roof terraces & trade partners in sun
CAP d'Agde lies on a stunning stretch of Mediterranean coastline in the south of France. The sea is crystal clear, the sands are powdery white. But frankly, nobody really cares, because visitors come here with only one thing on their minds – SEX. Advertisement 7 The 2km-long beach at Cap d'Agde is divided into three zones, the second being for naturists and the third section for swingers Credit: Rex 7 Cap d'Agde is located in the south of France and boasts stunning beaches and crystal clear water Credit: Getty 7 One Cap d'Agde regular, Brit Katie, reveals all about the swinging scene on the Mediterranean paradise 7 'There are parties going on, group interactions, couples looking for single guys, single women, couples – anything goes,' says Katie who visits with her partner Steffan Sex with their partners, sex with someone else's partner, group sex, sex on the beach, sex in the sea, sex during foam parties. Advertisement In this hedonistic playground, anything goes. Hundreds of thousands of swingers, including many Brits, descend on the resort each summer looking to fulfil their wildest fantasies. But despite all the exhibitionism, it's a closed, secretive world. As a rule, visitors to Most visitors have been part of the swinging scene for a while and have received an 'invitation' to join the fun. But one Cap d'Agde regular has agreed to speak to Fabulous, on the condition her identity is kept secret. Advertisement 'There are parties going on, group interactions, couples looking for single guys, single women, couples – anything goes,' says Katie, 34, who visits Cap d'Agde with her partner of six years, Steffan, 39. The couple, from Milton Keynes, run a website for swingers – fittingly. 'Everyone finds it so exciting,' she says. 'You get a real sense of the hedonist lifestyle. I've seen all sorts. Cap d'Agde has really opened my eyes. It's crazy.' The two kilometre beach at Cap d'Agde is divided into three zones. The first is for ordinary families, the second for naturists and the third section is for swingers. Thousands of swingers descend on sleepy village for UK's biggest sex festival with 'play tents, hot tubs and massages' Bonkers' beach, if you will. The swingers' zone even has a number of hotels to choose from. Advertisement Some accommodation even has two interconnecting rooms for couple swaps, while one hotel has a roof terrace where residents can have sex on sun loungers. Katie had her first swingers experience ten years ago, while with a former partner. 'We were going to Berlin to see a music gig and I was searching on TripAdvisor for what to do – just some innocent searching,' she explains. 'I came across what was described as a lifestyle club. It was number three on the list of attractions. 'That looks interesting', I thought. I was nervous, but inquisitive. You get a real sense of the hedonist lifestyle. I've seen all sorts. Cap d'Agde has really opened my eyes. It's crazy Katie 'I remember getting the train there with my ex and I felt like people knew where we were heading. It felt a bit naughty.' Advertisement When Katie arrived, she discovered her intuition was spot on. 'It was held in a nightclub and while everyone was clothed, there were private areas where people went to have sex or get involved,' she says. 'It was like this other world we didn't know existed. We just observed the first time and didn't participate. But it felt incredibly liberating.' When she came back home, Katie and her partner began visiting swingers' clubs in Newcastle and Leeds. 7 Katie met her current boyfriend through the swinging scene six years ago after splitting from her ex Advertisement 7 Cap d'Agde was a naturist village 30 years ago before swingers started going there Credit: Getty 'Soft swap' 'We were keen to meet similar people in the UK,' she says. 'We found so many normal people do it. It's like a secret life. It opened our minds to a different world. Even so, I didn't participate the first two or three times. I just watched others having sex. 'By the time I did get involved, I'd made some connections with people, so I was more relaxed. My first experience was a soft swap. My first full swap was the next time we went to a club. 'A soft swap might mean switching partners, but not having full sex. It might involve kissing, or foreplay. Advertisement 'A full swap is having sex with them. It's like experimenting, but with other people. It opens you up to a new world of different experiences.' I'm more of a voyeur – I'll be in among the fun. I like being in the vibe Katie Katie says the word After splitting with her partner, she met her current boyfriend, Steffan, through the scene six years ago. About a year later, they took off to Cap d'Agde after learning about it from friends on the scene. 'The first time I went, it opened my eyes even wider,' says Katie. Advertisement 'There's all sorts of stuff going on. You've got adults playing freely , having sex on the beach and in the sea. Some couples like to stand on the sidelines, enjoying the voyeuristic side where you watch others enjoying themselves.' 'There might be a handful of people I'll interact with, kissing or dancing,' she says. 'But I'm more of a voyeur – I'll be in among the fun. I like being in the vibe.' 'Freedom and empowerment' Katie and Steffan loved their first experience so much that they have returned every other year since. You could call it a swingers' pilgrimage. Advertisement Katie says that contrary to what appearances might suggest, Cap d'Agde is not a free-for-all. Well, not most of the time. 'Everything is about consent and respect,' she explains 'When you go to Cap d'Agde, you'll be on one of the lifestylers [swingers] apps, such as one called Wyylde. If you have a profile, you explain what you're looking for, there is a conversation, then you meet. 'For single guys and adventurous couples, you could have over 10 interactions, from soft swaps to full sex, in a day.' Interacting with complete strangers is not unusual. Advertisement 'If you're on the beach, for example, people might start to watch. You might say, 'Do you want to join us?' and there's the joy of the spontaneous situation. 'But there's always consent. There's no pressure. You do get people you're not interested in making approaches, but you can politely decline.' One of the curious things about Cap d'Agde is that while all this sex and wild abandon is going on, parents with kids might be eating picnics and building sandcastles just metres along the coast. 'There are families on a different part of the beach,' says Katie. My parents' initial reaction was that they wanted to make sure I was OK and it wasn't something I was being forced into Katie 'And Cap d'Agde was a naturist village 20 to 30 years ago, before swingers started going there. So you'll see naturists walking about, who are not there for sex.' Advertisement Surprisingly, Katie claims she doesn't get jealous when she sees Steffan having fun with other women. 'No, actually I find there's less jealousy,' she says. "It's about sex positivity, freedom and empowerment. It can strengthen your relationship.' Katie believes swinging has 'skyrocketed' in recent years. 'From our research on Google, it's around five per cent and growing. It's opening up in the mainstream,' she says. "Most of my friends are now in the lifestyle. We told them and they were interested to see what it was all about. People questioning the standard Advertisement 'There are ENM clubs across the UK, and events at mansions. From our research, 30 to 60 years old is the main age group, but the 20 to 30 age group is growing.' What is Swinging? SWINGING, also known as partner swapping, is a sexual activity where partners in a committed relationship engage in sexual activities with other people. All parties involved must give explicit and enthusiastic consent. Open and honest communication between partners is crucial. Many swingers engage with a community or attend events specifically for swinging. Such activity can enhance intimacy and trust within the primary relationship. It provides an opportunity to explore sexual fantasies and desires. But it is not suitable for every relationship and requires a strong foundation of trust. Jealousy and emotional challenges may arise and need to be managed. While Katie wishes her identity to remain unknown to the wider world, her friends and family know her secret. 'My parents' initial reaction was that they wanted to make sure I was OK and it wasn't something I was being forced into,' she says. 'But they're fine with it because they know I'm fine with it. Family members find it interesting – they're all very inquisitive.' Katie and Steffan recently started a family. 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The Irish Sun
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Brit tourists in Majorca now being sent to ‘dangerous' FAKE BEACHES as protesters ramp-up war on holidaymakers
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We closed coves for residents' use and rest. Let's change course and prioritise life. "We believe the tourist is part of the machinery and has responsibility for the situation we suffer." Advertisement 'But the main people responsible are those who own the hotel chains and construction companies and real estate firms. 'They're the ones we should be pointing our fingers at.' It also follows last week's announcement by Brits vow to defy anti-tourism zealots after 1000s of sunbeds across Majorca were scrapped The group said: "Prepare your towels, umbrellas and banners because we will be making a new symbolic occupation on a beach in Mallorca," Advertisement Anti-tourist demonstrators have already Pere Joan is the spokesperson and organiser for Menys Turisme Més Vida - meaning "Less Tourism, More Life". He previously told the Mirror: "We hope to do the same and occupy the beaches in places that have a mass of tourists." 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The Irish Sun
18 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Dark side of Egypt where tourists are tortured & killed and Brits are banged up & ‘forced to pay bribes by corrupt cops'
WHEN it comes to a perfect holiday destination for Brits, Egypt has it all - five-star resorts, scorching temperatures and stunning beaches. But beyond the boundaries of its luxury all-inclusive havens is a dark underbelly that the country's tourist board would rather holidaymakers didn't see. 18 Ivonne Daniela Latorre died after being beaten in Egypt Credit: Newsflash 18 The Pyramids of Giza attract millions of tourists from around the world every year Credit: Getty 18 Brit Laura Plummer was held for over a year in a hellish Egyptian prison after painkillers were found in her bag Credit: Collect 18 A former British ambassador to Egypt recently branded the country a 'police state' The Pharoah nation sucks in a staggering 18million tourists each year, and the industry props up around 10 percent of the whole economy, and it's clear to see why. Flocking in their droves, tourists arrive to visit ancient tombs and lounge on the two magnificent coastlines of the But beyond the plush resorts of the popular Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada - Egypt harbours dirty secrets. Tourists have disappeared in mysterious circumstances - only to turn up mutilated or dead. It is a police state in Egypt. It is violent and vindictive and it is abusing a British citizen John Casson Former British ambassador to Egypt A brutal police force deals in bribes and locks people up on bogus charges, including Brit holidaymakers. The ancient-world sites are riddled with canny con artists who know how to wangle money out of tourists. And animals are tortured and worked to death - with some discarded in makeshift graveyards around the back of the pyramids. Egypt's picture-postcard image is being tested, with a former British ambassador to the country recently branding it a "police state". John Casson said the authorities are "violent and vindictive" and urged the government to "deploy the full range of tools it has to protect British citizens". "This includes official travel advice that should caution against travel to Egypt," he said. Egypt's huge new mega resort will have 11 districts with hotels, attractions and UK flights "It is a police state in Egypt. It is violent and vindictive and it is abusing a British citizen." Egypt's dangerous underbelly was dragged into the spotlight last month when a Colombian tourist Ivonne Latorre, 24, was found dying in a coma at the side of a road after going missing from the Zamna electronic music festival in Cairo. She has sustained horrific injuries after crossing paths with men posing as producers - and tragically died five days later in hospital. Nobody knows who mutilated Ivonne , but an investigation has been launched into the beauty queen's mysterious death. I used to love going on holiday there, but I'll never step foot in that country again Tony Camoccio Brit held in Egyptian jail Holidaymakers have also accused the country's police officers of corruption, arresting tourists on bogus charges and offering them a way out with bribes. Tony Camoccio, a 56-year-old Londoner, was arrested and locked up in a terrifying jail for simply patting a security guard on the back. The window business owner was told he was going to be charged with sexual assault and locked up for seven years. He told The Sun: "I was locked in a cage outside for two nights with 80 other people. I was just in a T-shirt and shorts and it was one degrees at night. 18 Ivonne, left, died in hospital five days after being found Credit: Newsflash 18 Tony Camoccio was told he would be banged up for seven years on fabricated sexual assault charges Credit: supplied 18 Camels and other animals are routinely mistreated at key tourist sites Credit: PETA Asia 18 A camel tied up at the pyramids foams at the mouth Credit: PETA Asia "Then they told me to sign a document and said I would be released." But the document Tony signed was not a release paper - he says he'd been tricked into signing a confession written in Arabic. Tony said: "It was all about money. My lawyer was told I could get out if we 'made the policeman happy' - clearly meaning a bribe." But the most shocking thing Tony witnessed was inside the brutal Police Station 1 prison. He said: "You couldn't sleep at night because the guards were beating women and children, making them scream. It was horrible. "Egypt is a dangerous place. Most tourists just stay in their hotels because they know that, but it means they don't see the truth. "I used to love going on holiday there, but I'll never step foot in that country again." Tony was lucky to escape the police's clutches when he was released after just over a week - but not everyone has been so fortunate. An Italian Cambridge University graduate, Giulio Regeni, 28, was tortured to death after being scooped up in 2016 - and Italy blames the Egyptian authorities. His mutilated body was found in a ditch near Cairo nine days after disappearing while on a research trip - and an autopsy revealed he had been subjected to extreme torture. Rome has officially charged four members of Egypt's National Security Agency with his murder and torture, and prosecutors still hope for a trial. 'Tourist exploitation' While only a fraction of tourists have serious run-ins with the police, there are other murky realities about Egypt that almost all will experience. One is the near-constant stream of scams that plague tourists as they navigate the cities and attractions. A popular travel blogger who visited Egypt recently vowed never to return - and even re-booked flights to get out two days early. Antonina, behind the Embrace Someplace blog, said: "The constant 'in your face' deceit was one of the worst parts about visiting Egypt. 18 Guilio Regeni was kidnapped and tortured to death Credit: Refer to Caption 18 Laura Plummer, from Hull, said the Egyptian jail was the most horrific thing she'd ever seen Credit: PA:Press Association "These daily demands for as much money as possible started to get to us because it happened no less than 10 times a day. "Eventually we just stopped leaving the hotel. To put it bluntly, I felt like a walking ATM while visiting Egypt. "It seemed to me that, as a tourist, the objective was to get as much money from me as possible. The level of tourist exploitation is absolutely next level." The Pyramids of Giza - visited by tens of thousands every day - are a hotspot for the scams, particularly as the industry picks up again post-Covid. The problem is so bad it has driven a surge in social media influencers creating "avoid the scams" videos. Men with whistles are documented posing as officials, trying to get tourists to follow them to a spot only to charge an extortionate price for the "service". Others falsely tell visitors they are walking the wrong way - ultimately hoping to charge for pictures taken with the pyramids, according to Sam Mayfair's viral TikTok report. 18 British-Egyptian Alaa Abd el-Fattah is being held illegally in jail Cairo, according to the UN Credit: Reuters 18 Tora maximum security prison, where Alaa was initially held Credit: AFP 18 Laila Soueif's has been on hunger strike for over 250 days to protest the ongoing detention of her son Credit: Alamy But the ongoing case that pushed John Casson to call for a change to UK travel advice is that of a British-Egyptian man who has been locked up there for years, with the UN ruling that he is being held illegally. Alaa Abd el-Fattah was banged up five years ago - and has not been released despite his sentence expiring in September. His mum, Laila Soueif, in London, is on death's door after almost 300 days of hunger strike - and she has vowed not to eat until her son is free. I saw two girls getting tortured with sticks in my cell Laura Plummer locked up in Egypt for over a year James Lynch, working for Alaa's campaign, told The Sun that David Lammy's progress with the Egyptian authorities "risks being too slow for Laila and Alaa, British citizens whose health and lives are at serious risk as a result of their prolonged hunger strikes". Alaa's unfair detention echoes the story of Laura Plummer, a shop worker from Hull, who was locked up over prescription painkillers found in her luggage. The Brit ultimately spent 14 months in horrific conditions. Laura was She was freed in 2019 Laura was moved from Cairo to Hurghada Prison, where she said she "witnessed the most horrendous things", including "two girls getting tortured with sticks". 18 Scars and raw wounds can be seen all along this camel's neck from rope burns Credit: peta asia 18 A horse is whipped after stumbling over in the road Credit: PETA Asia She said: 'What should have been a two-week holiday in the sun turned into a 15-month trip to hell." Left to die Animal abuse is also a problem in the country, an issue brought to light by a harrowing PETA Asia investigation. The animal rights group uncovered the routine abuse of the creatures forced to work at the pyramids and other attractions. Donkeys, horses and camels in particular are worked to death ferrying tourists around in the scorching heat, and often treated cruelly by their handlers. A recent report said that "handlers viciously beat animals who are simply too exhausted to go on". It said: "Screaming camels are viciously beaten with sticks by men and children at the Birqash Camel Market before being sold to the tourism industry. "Sick, injured, or starving horses and camels are often abandoned by carriage operators who treat them like disposable tools." Tour companies have started moving away from offering camel rides after widespread outrage at the findings of successive investigations, but the local operators are pushing back. As if all that isn't enough for tourists to deal with, a surge of fatal shark attacks have terrorised the coast in recent years. A 48-year-old Italian man was There have been at least two more confirmed deaths from shark attacks in the past ten years - and a host of injuries. It's Red Sea coast makes it far more dangerous to swim around than any of the other countries on the Med, as Most visits to Egypt will pass without hitch but, after four years of diplomatic experience in the country, John Casson said the nation must do more to protect Brits, who bring in millions each year. He said: "Egypt cannot have it both ways. It pretends to be a friend and depends on flows of British tourists to keep its economy afloat. "It needs to discover that that kind of partnership is not compatible with abusing our citizens and blocking our embassy from carrying out the most fundamental consular actions on their behalf." 18 Horses eating from a rubbish heap Credit: peta asia 18 PETA Asia found there was a graveyard for dead and dying animals near the pyramids Credit: PETA Asia 18 A camel is tugged by the jaw at a livestock market in Egpyt Credit: PETA Asia
