Recently, unprecedented airspace closures across the Gulf have impacted flights traveling to and transiting through the region. Here are five immediate steps travelers can take when dealing with flight cancelations to regain control:

1. Contact your travel insurance provider to understand what is covered.

2. Check your airline’s policies: they might be able to offer a free rebooking or refund.

3. If you choose to rebook yourself, lean on Skyscanner’s smart booking options. Tools such as Price Alerts and Whole Month Search allow you to find the cheapest alternatives, so you can book the best option at the best price.

4. If your disruption take place in the US, refer to Department of Transportation advice on your rights. If you’re impacted outside of the US, check what your entitlement rights are as these can vary by country or region.

5. Keep records of all costs incurred as airlines sometimes cover expenses such as overnight accommodation, transport to and from the airport, and meals.

Our guide on what to do if your flight is canceled covers these in more detail.

There are also measures that you can take before your trip to safeguard your booking:

Travelers may have questions surrounding global jet fuel shortages and how it may impact summer vacation plans outside of the US.

According to data from FlightAware, 454 flights within, into, or out of the US were canceled between May 15 and 20, as of May 18, 2026.

Additionally, there is no official warning linked to fuel shortages for this summer and AirHelp suggests that the large majority of cancelations are linked to weather primarily.

The FAA states that, historically, flight cancelations are trending lower, while the DOT has published a cancelation and delay dashboard listing commitments by each airline. However, it's worth noting that those are linked to what is deemed to be a "controllable cancelation."

What’s happening with US flight cancelations and jet fuel shortages

Despite early 2026 cancelation numbers being slightly higher than for the same period last year, the FAA advises that overall, cancelations are trending down.

However, understanding how major carriers are responding can help you stay ahead of potential disruption in the current climate.

• Bear in mind that, as standard, airlines don't guarantee their schedules. Disruptions, delays, and cancelations can occur for a multitude of reasons.

• If your flight is delayed, first find out what the likely disruption will be. Remember there could also be so-called "creeping delays," where developments occur that change the initial estimation a carrier will provide (for example, weather forecasts showing an expected improvement, than deteriorating).

• If you are faced with a lengthy delay, you may be better off trying to arrange another flight. But check your possible cancelation penalties or travel insurance cover first. If you find a flight on another airline, the DOT suggests checking with your initial carrier if it will endorse your ticket to the new one (but remember, there is no rule requiring airlines to do this).

• In case of a cancelation, most airlines will rebook you on their first available flight where there is space, at no extra cost. If this causes a significant delay, you can check with another carrier if they have space and see if your original airline will endorse this new ticket.

• There is no federal rule about how passengers should be treated in case they are delayed waiting at the airport. Ask your airline staff what is covered, check with your travel insurance, and keep track and proof of payment of anything you spend on meals, for example.

• In case of cancelation, you can be entitled to rebooking or refunds, but what happens next depends on your airline. Contrary to popular belief, however, the DOT advises that there is no federal law requiring that domestic flight cancelations be refunded.

• Contact hotel, car rental, and activity providers as early as possible, once delays or cancelations have been confirmed by your airline.

• Confirm if there are any grace periods and refund policies to understand your options.

• Keep receipts for your insurance provider.

• Document disruption evidence in case the hotel, car rental or activity provider requires this to waive some fees or refund you.

This cheatsheet breaks down how travellers can easily solve for some of the common causes of travel disruption:

Travel disruption occur for a number of reasons including flight delays and cancelations caused by:

• Security risks (i.e. severe weather conditions, air traffic congestions, etc.)

• Operational glitches

• Logistical challenges (i.e. strike action, the introduction of new travel regulations, airline insolvency).

Disruption to flight schedules happen throughout the year but recently, the geopolitical situation in the Gulf region has caused widespread cancelations of flights. Thishas impacted routes travelling to and from the area, as well as those transiting through the airspace.

The situation has raised questions around air fuel shortages, resulting in a number of proactive measures being introduced by airlines. These include cutting down specific routes, increasing fares or introducing surcharges on flight tickets in response.

Additionally, various new travel regulations have been introduced which impact travellers in 2026, such as the ETIAS. As these changes are being rolled out, travelers face potential delays to entry.

Whether you’re impacted by commonly occurring reasons or by unprecedented global events, flight cancelations can often create chaos. And while no-one wants to deal with them, knowing how to react will help eliminate any hassle and anxiety if your flight is affected.

Five essential steps you should take:

1. Know your rights based on what your insurance provider will cover. 

2. Know your rights based on your airline’s policies, especially as they might be able to offer a free rebooking.

3. If you choose not to opt for rebooking options the airline can offer, check if you’re eligible for a refund, and rebook yourself using Skyscanner’s smart booking options (such as Price Alerts and Whole Month Search) to find the cheapest alternatives.

4. If you’re impacted outside of the US, check what your entitlement rights your airline provides (these can differ by country and region).

5. Make sure you keep records of all costs incurred, as airlines will sometimes cover things like overnight stays, transport to and from the airport, and meals.

Traveller rights vary depending on the airline, route, timing of the disruption and local regulations. In many cases, passengers may be entitled to rebooking support, refunds or compensation, though rules differ depending on the cause of the disruption. 

The US Department of Transport offers the following guidelines:

• Bear in mind that, as standard, airlines don't guarantee their schedules. Disruptions, delays, and cancelations can occur for a multitude of reasons.

• If your flight is delayed, first find out what the likely disruption will be. Remember there could also be so-called "creeping delays," where developments occur that change the initial estimation a carrier will provide (for example, weather forecasts showing an expected improvement, than deteriorating).

• If you are faced with a lengthy delay, you may be better off trying to arrange another flight. But check your possible cancelation penalties or travel insurance cover first. If you find a flight on another airline, the DOT suggests checking with your initial carrier if it will endorse your ticket to the new one (but remember, there is no rule requiring airlines to do this).

• In case of a cancelation, most airlines will rebook you on their first available flight where there is space, at no extra cost. If this causes a significant delay, you can check with another carrier if they have space and see if your original airline will endorse this new ticket.

• There is no federal rule about how passengers should be treated in case they are delayed waiting at the airport. Ask your airline staff what is covered, check with your travel insurance, and keep track and proof of payment of anything you spend on meals, for example.

• In case of cancelation, you can be entitled to rebooking or refunds, but what happens next depends on your airline. Contrary to popular belief, however, the DOT advises that there is no federal law requiring that domestic flight cancelations be refunded.

You can find more information on what to do when your flight gets cancelled in our dedicated guide.

When a flight schedule changes, travelers are usually notified after the airline or airport has confirmed the delay or cancelation. However, there can be some prior signs that can signal whether your flight is likely to be impacted. These include news of route disruption, airport notices, airline alerts, weather warnings, strikes or official travel updates.

The best way to stay on top of flight schedule changes is to:

• Check directly with your airline via their website or app 

• Monitor communication with the carrier via email, SMS or app notification

• Get live tracking updates via FlightAware

• Check official government or airport advice

Officially, the FAA suggests that travelers should not pre-emptively cancel their travel plans. Moreover, US airlines are not currently seeing a shortage of jet fuel. In fact, while data from aviation analysts, Cirium, shows around 13,000 flights were cancelled globally in May, this still only represents less than 2% of a reduction in global capacity.

As most cancelations are linked to aviation fuel costs rather than a resource shortage, the US federal government is working with airline partners to minimize travel disruption ahead of the summer period. Some airlines have already responded by cutting down on less popular routes or adding surcharges to flight tickets to recuperate costs (often on the checked baggage fees).

Airline insolvency happens when an airline can no longer continue operating or meet its financial obligations. In some cases, this can result in canceled flights, suspended routes or difficulty accessing refunds and rebooking support.

While these remain relatively uncommon, in the event that an airline you have a booking with does stop operating, the following steps can help alleviate some of the pressure:

• Check official airline communications for updates on cancelations and reimbursement processes.

• Contact your travel insurer and payment provider to understand whether you may be eligible for protection or chargeback support.

• Use Skyscanner’s flight search to easily compare replacement flight options across multiple airlines, routes, and booking providers if you need to reorganize your journey.

Travel insurance offers protection against a range of issues. This may include flight cancelations, flight delays or airline insolvency depending on your policy. However, be aware that exemptions may apply in certain situations, particularly for events linked to conflict, government travel restrictions or airspace closures. 

When facing travel disruption, review your policy to quickly gain an understanding of your rights and get in touch with your provider as soon as possible to get clarity of your cover and actionable steps, such as keeping a copy and evidence of expenses. 

If you’re looking to buy travel insurance, we have the answers to your questions in our guide.

• Know your legal rights if you’re subject to flight cancelations. See our guide on flight cancellations to understand where you stand.

• Use Skyscanner’s nearby airports filter to expand search to alternative airports for more options.

• Utilise Whole Month Search to find the cheapest flights if you have flexibility with dates

You can make your trip more flexible by using tools that help you adapt quickly when plans change. Skyscanner makes it easy to compare flights, hotels, and car rental all in one place, so if you need to rebook or change direction unexpectedly, you can quickly find the best option at the best price. Features like Price Alerts, Drops, and flexible ticket filters give travelers more control and confidence when booking.

See our guide on flexible flights to understand more.