Travel News · 8 min read · March 10, 2026

Is it safe to fly right now? An honest guide for UK holidaymakers

If you've seen the news and started worrying about your holiday, this page is for you. We'll tell you exactly what's affected, what isn't, and what the official advice actually means in plain English.

Short on time? Let us summarise this guide for you.

For the vast majority of UK holidaymakers, flying right now is safe and normal. The Iran conflict has caused serious disruption in and around the Middle East, and its effects have reached further than many people realise — Iranian drones struck RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, and Turkey intercepted at least one drone in its airspace. But civilian tourism in Cyprus is unaffected, Turkey's holiday resorts are operating normally, and destinations including Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy, France, Malta and the Canary Islands are seeing no disruption whatsoever. The FCDO advises against all travel to Israel, Palestine and Iran, and urges caution in several Gulf states. For everywhere else, the advice is to travel normally. The key action: bookmark the FCDO advice page for your specific destination, check it again before you travel, and understand that the evidence strongly supports most holidays going ahead as planned.

The honest answer

The news has been alarming. Drone strikes on Dubai. A million travellers stranded. An Iranian drone hitting a British military base in Cyprus. Turkey intercepting drones in its own airspace. Oil above $100 a barrel. It's completely understandable that you're asking whether it's still safe to fly.

The honest answer is that the picture is more nuanced than either "everything's fine" or "don't travel anywhere." The conflict has reached further than a simple map of Iran and its immediate neighbours might suggest — but for the overwhelming majority of UK holiday destinations, civilian travel remains safe and normal. The important thing is to understand specifically what has happened where, rather than applying a general anxiety to everywhere.

As with any developing situation, the right question is not "is travel safe?" in the abstract, but two more precise questions:

• Is my specific destination safe for civilian tourists?
• Is my specific flight routing safe?

We'll answer both, destination by destination and route by route, below.

What FCDO advice levels actually mean

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is the UK government body responsible for advising British nationals on travel safety abroad. Its advice is the single most important thing to check — and it comes in four distinct levels that most people have never been taught to read.

Crucially, the FCDO issues advice by country, and often by specific region within a country. An advisory for one part of a country does not mean the whole country is unsafe. And importantly, some countries may have incidents within their borders — military bases targeted, airspace briefly violated — without the FCDO issuing a tourist travel advisory. That distinction matters, and we explain it for each relevant destination below.

The other reason to watch FCDO advice closely: if it changes to "advise against all travel" for your package holiday destination after you've booked, you are legally entitled to a full refund — no cancellation fees, no vouchers. That's UK law. Bookmark gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice now.

Your full holiday rights guide

What your rights are if FCDO advice changes, your flight is cancelled, or your tour operator collapses — all explained in plain English.

Destination by destination: what's the situation?

Last updated: 10 March 2026. This is a fast-moving situation. Always verify current advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice before you travel.

No FCDO advisory — civilian tourism unaffected

Spain (including Majorca, Ibiza, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria)

No FCDO advisory. Flights operating normally from all UK airports. The Canary Islands sit off the northwest coast of Africa, more than 3,000 miles from the conflict zone. No disruption of any kind to civilian travel.

Greece (including Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Santorini, Zante)

No FCDO advisory. All major Greek island routes operating normally. Greece is likely to see higher visitor numbers this summer as travellers displaced from Middle East destinations look for Mediterranean alternatives — busier than usual, but no less safe or welcoming.

Portugal (including the Algarve, Lisbon, Madeira)

No FCDO advisory. All routes operating normally.

Italy (including Rome, Sicily, Sardinia, Amalfi, Venice)

No FCDO advisory. All routes operating normally.

France

No FCDO advisory. All routes operating normally.

Malta

No FCDO advisory. Malta is operating normally and is a particularly strong choice right now — English-speaking, short direct flights, warm, and rich in history.

Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania

No FCDO advisories. These Adriatic and Balkan destinations are completely unaffected by the conflict and represent some of the smartest alternative bookings of the moment.

Incidents have occurred — but civilian tourism is currently unaffected

Cyprus

Cyprus requires a more careful explanation than a simple traffic light can provide. On 1 March, an Iranian Shahed drone struck the runway at RAF Akrotiri — the British military base in the south of the island. Two further drones were intercepted over Akrotiri the following morning. The FCDO has not issued a tourist travel advisory for Cyprus as a result of these incidents.

The distinction being drawn — by the FCDO and by the Cypriot authorities — is between military and civilian targets. The strikes appear to have been directed at the British military presence, not at civilian infrastructure. Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca and Ayia Napa airports are operating normally. Civilian flights in and out of Cyprus are unaffected.

This is genuinely reassuring for most holidaymakers — but it requires honest acknowledgement. Cyprus is an island where military and civilian life coexist, British military bases are present, and Iran has explicitly threatened further attacks on Cyprus. The FCDO's current position is that civilian tourism is safe. We recommend monitoring the FCDO advice page for Cyprus specifically before and during your trip.

Turkey

Turkey has intercepted at least one Iranian drone in its airspace since the conflict began. The FCDO has not issued a tourist travel advisory for Turkey's civilian resorts as a result. Turkey has a complex geopolitical position — it shares borders with both Iran and several conflict-adjacent states — but its Aegean and Mediterranean tourist regions (Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, Marmaris) are geographically distant from those borders and are operating normally.

Turkey is also a significant aviation hub, and Istanbul continues to operate as one of Europe's busiest transit airports. The drone interception is a reminder that the conflict's reach is not perfectly contained, but the FCDO's assessment is that civilian tourism in Turkey is safe. Again: monitor the FCDO advice page for Turkey and check it before you travel.

Monitor closely — route disruption and proximity to conflict

Egypt (including Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Cairo)

Egypt itself is not a conflict zone and the FCDO does not advise against travel to Egyptian tourist resorts. Egypt is geographically close to the broader region and some flight routes have been disrupted, but there is no material change to the FCDO's advice from before the conflict broke out. Check directly with your airline for your specific flight's status, and monitor the FCDO page closely.

Do not travel

Israel and Palestine

The FCDO advises against all travel. If you have a package holiday booked, you are entitled to a full refund — contact your tour operator now and quote the Package Travel Regulations 2018.

Iran

The FCDO advises against all travel to Iran. Do not travel.

UAE / Dubai, Qatar / Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait

The FCDO has issued shelter-in-place advice for British nationals in several Gulf states. Dubai airport is operating only in limited capacity. If you have a holiday booked to the UAE or Qatar, contact your operator immediately. Refund or rebooking rights are very likely to apply given the level of disruption.

What about airspace — is flying over the region safe?

Airlines and aviation regulators take airspace safety extraordinarily seriously, and the system for managing conflict-zone airspace is well-established. When conflict breaks out, aviation authorities — including the UK Civil Aviation Authority, EUROCONTROL and ICAO — issue NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) that define which airspace is closed or restricted. Airlines are prohibited from flying through restricted airspace.

What this means in practice: your aircraft will not be routed through airspace that aviation authorities have assessed as unsafe. Airlines operating routes that previously passed over the Middle East are currently taking longer routes that avoid the affected region. This adds flight time and cost for airlines, but it is the standard, established response to conflict-zone airspace.

The drone incidents over Cyprus and Turkey are a reminder that conflict-zone boundaries are not perfectly predictable — drones can travel significant distances and their trajectories are not always anticipated. Aviation regulators are monitoring this actively. If the risk profile of any specific airspace changes, NOTAMs will be updated and airlines will respond. The system is designed for exactly this kind of dynamic situation.

For UK flights to western and central European destinations — Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands — none of this is relevant. Those flight paths do not go anywhere near the affected region.

What are airlines actually doing?

Major UK and European airlines have responded professionally and decisively. Here is what is happening in practice:

• Suspension of Middle East routes: British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, easyJet and others have suspended direct services to Israel, the UAE, Qatar and other directly affected destinations until further notice.
• Rerouting of long-haul flights: Flights to Southeast Asia, Australia and East Africa that previously routed over the Gulf or through Middle Eastern airspace are being rerouted, adding flight time but maintaining safety.
• Western European routes: operating normally: Short-haul flights from UK airports to Spain, Portugal, Italy, France and similar destinations are flying full schedules with no disruption.
• Cyprus and Turkey routes: operating, with monitoring: Flights to Paphos, Larnaca, Antalya, Bodrum and other popular resort airports are currently operating. Airlines are monitoring the situation actively and will respond if the risk assessment changes.
• Gulf airlines working to resume: Emirates has announced it aims to return to near-full network operations within weeks. If Gulf airline operations resume at scale, long-haul route options and prices will improve significantly.

The broader point: airlines have both a commercial and a regulatory incentive to fly wherever it is safe and not to fly wherever it isn't. If your flight is operating as scheduled, it has been assessed by professionals as safe to operate.

The complete Iran conflict holiday guide

Everything UK travellers need to know in one place — your rights, your costs, your options, and the smartest alternative destinations.

What history tells us about flying during conflicts

It is worth stepping back and looking at what actually happens to aviation during geopolitical crises — because the pattern is consistent, and it is instructive.

During the first Gulf War in 1991, global aviation was disrupted but recovered quickly once the conflict stabilised. During the 2003 Iraq War, UK holiday bookings dipped briefly, then surged as people realised the disruption was geographically contained. During the Arab Spring of 2011, Egypt and Tunisia saw sharp falls in tourism — but Spain, Greece and Turkey had record seasons as travellers pivoted. After 9/11 — the most dramatic aviation shock in recent history — global flight volumes recovered to pre-crisis levels within two years.

In each case, the same thing happened: the conflict disrupted travel in the places where it was happening, and temporarily unsettled travellers everywhere else. But the industry absorbed the shock, regulators adapted, airlines rerouted, and people went on holiday.

None of this means the current situation should be taken lightly — the drone incidents in Cyprus and Turkey are a genuine reminder that conflicts can have unpredictable reach. But history does suggest that the appropriate response is careful, informed vigilance — not blanket cancellation of all travel plans.

What to do right now

• Bookmark the FCDO advice page for your specific destination — gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. Check it today, check it a week before you go, and again 72 hours before departure.
• If your destination is Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy, France or Malta — there is no FCDO advisory and no disruption to civilian travel. We're travelling as planned and our government sees no reason to advice you to do otherwise.
• If you haven't booked your summer holiday yet, see our guide to what the conflict means for your holiday budget. There's a strong case for booking now and locking in today's price.
• If your destination is Cyprus or Turkey — civilian tourism is currently operating normally, but both countries have experienced conflict-adjacent incidents. Monitor the FCDO advice page closely and check it again before you depart.
• If you're flying through a Gulf hub (Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi) — check with your airline whether your specific flight is operating, rerouted, or cancelled. You are entitled to a refund or rerouting if your flight is cancelled.
• If you're booked to Israel, Palestine, or the UAE and have a package holiday, contact your operator now. Your refund rights are almost certainly active.
• Do not cancel before official advice changes. If you cancel a package holiday before the FCDO formally advises against travel to your destination, you may lose your cancellation deposit. Wait for the official trigger, then act with your rights in place.
• Check your travel insurance for war exclusions. If you bought your policy before 28 February and the FCDO subsequently changes advice for your destination, many policies will cover cancellation — but read the terms carefully or call your insurer directly.

The smarter holiday alternatives nobody is rushing to (yet)

If you were heading to the Middle East and want something different — here are the destinations that deliver, without the crowds everyone else will descend on.

The bottom line

The conflict has reached further than the Middle East alone, and you should be aware of that before you fly. Drone incidents in Cyprus and Turkey are facts, and you deserve to know about them.

But the equally true fact is that civilian tourism across the vast majority of UK holiday destinations is operating normally. The FCDO — whose job it is to assess these risks seriously and professionally — has not issued tourist travel advisories for Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France or any other mainstream European or Mediterranean destination. That assessment is based on intelligence and expert analysis, not wishful thinking.

Travel carefully. Check the FCDO advice for your specific destination. Monitor it before you go. And if you're heading somewhere with a clean advisory and no disruption, there is every reason to look forward to your holiday.

This page is reviewed and updated regularly as the situation develops. For the very latest position on your specific destination, always use the FCDO's live advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.