Why airspace closures occur

Airspace can be closed or restricted for many reasons, including severe weather, security concerns, political situations, technical issues, safety incidents, military activity or natural events such as volcanic ash. Restrictions may affect a single airport, a flight route or a wider region of airspace that airlines usually pass through.

If airspace is restricted, airlines may need to delay flights, cancel services or reroute aircraft around the affected area. This can also cause knock-on disruption to connecting flights, aircraft schedules and crew availability, even after the original restriction has changed.

In this guide, we’ll cover what to do if your flight is delayed, rerouted or cancelled because of an airspace closure.

At a glance: What to do right now if your flight has been disrupted

Most travellers who have had a disrupted flight in this situation are trying to answer the same urgent question: is my flight cancelled, and what do I do next?

Start here. There’s no need to tackle everything at once — work through these step by step

• Check your flight status using your airline’s website or app

• Turn on airline notifications (email, SMS and app alerts)

• Do not cancel your booking until you’ve checked your airline’s rebooking and refund options

• Screenshot your booking confirmation and save airline messages

• If you’re connecting through a major hub, check your full itinerary, not just your first flight

• Keep receipts for any extra costs (food, hotels, transport and essentials)

If you booked through a third-party, read the section below before you take action.

If you are worried about whether it is safe to travel through a specific airport or region, check official government advice at Smartraveller.gov.au. Be sure to check advice at the destinations where you'll be travelling to, as well as any stopover destinations.

First up: if you’re travelling soon

If your flight is today, you’re at the airport, or you’re already abroad and your plans have changed, your priorities are simple:

Get accurate information. Protect your booking. Keep a record of what happens.

1. Check your flight status in the right place

• Go to the operating airline’s website or app and search by your booking reference or flight number

• Third-party trackers can be useful for context, but they may lag behind and they will not show you your rebooking options. If you’re trying to make a decision, always use the airline’s channel first

• If you are already at the airport, check the airline’s app as well as the departure boards. The app usually updates first

2. Turn on notifications so you are not guessing

• Enable alerts for your booking by email, SMS and app notifications

• In fast-moving disruption, airlines may rebook passengers automatically, and that information is often sent as a message rather than shown on a public departures screen

3. Do not cancel yet

This is what catches most people out when stress kicks in.

• If you cancel your flight before the airline cancels or significantly changes it, you may reduce your refund or rebooking options. In many cases, your best protections apply only once the airline has cancelled or made a major change

• If you are unsure, wait until you have seen what the airline is offering for your specific flight and ticket

4. If you are already at the airport, stay there until you have a plan

If you have a connection, speak to airline staff or the transfer desk before leaving the terminal. It is usually easier to resolve rebooking, connection and baggage issues while you are still at the airport. Confirm:

• your new flight numbers and times

• your updated boarding pass or booking confirmation

• whether your baggage is checked through to your final destination

5. Document everything from the start

Save screenshots of:

• your original booking confirmation

• cancellation or delay messages

• rebooking emails or app notifications

Keep receipts for meals, accommodation, transport and essential purchases if you are delayed. Even if you do not end up needing them, having a record protects you later.

If you booked through a third party and cannot get help

A lot of stress for travellers in these situations is not just the cancellation, but the loop between the airline and the booking provider. An all-too-frequent scenario: the airline says you must go to the agent, and the agent is hard to reach.

Here's how to handle it calmly and methodically.

Why the airline may not be able to refund you directly

If your ticket was issued by a third party (an online travel agent or booking site), the airline may be required to process refunds and changes through the issuing party rather than directly with you. This is frustrating, but it is common.

If you need to travel soon

Start by checking whether the airline has already issued an alternative itinerary. Some airlines rebook automatically.

Remember to check the contact details on your booking, as confirmations usually go to the email address listed there. If these are incorrect, you may need the booking provider to update them before the airline can help. This comes up often in disruption, especially if the booking was created using placeholder contact details.

What to do:

• contact the booking provider and request they correct your email and phone number on the booking immediately

• ask them to confirm, in writing, that the details have been updated with the airline

• once updated, go back to the airline to request rebooking options

If you want a refund

If the airline has cancelled your flight, ask the booking provider to confirm:

• whether the airline has authorised a refund for your ticket

• whether the refund will be returned to the original payment method

• the expected timeline for processing

If you have an email from the airline confirming refund eligibility, keep it and attach it when you contact the booking provider. It can speed up the process.

If you cannot reach the booking provider

Do three things in parallel:

• use every official contact route they provide (email, phone, chat, contact form)

• keep a record of your attempts, including dates, times and screenshots

• avoid booking expensive replacement travel until you understand what you can reclaim

If you have a connection through an airport that has been closed

If all flights are on one booking reference

If your journey is under one booking reference, the airline is generally responsible for getting you to your final destination. If you miss a connection due to a delay or cancellation, you should be rebooked.

If you booked separate tickets

If your flights are on separate bookings, the onward airline may treat you as a no-show if you miss the second flight. In that scenario, you may need to buy a new ticket unless your insurance covers missed connections on separate bookings.

If you’re mid-journey and your connection is at risk, speak to airline staff before leaving the airport. Confirm whether you need to collect your baggage or whether it is checked through.

If your flight is cancelled or significantly delayed

What happens next depends on your airline, route, and where you are departing from. In many cases, if your flight is cancelled, you should be offered a choice between:

• rebooking or rerouting, subject to availability

• a refund if you no longer wish to travel

Depending on the rules that apply to your journey, the airline may also have obligations around care while you wait, such as meals or accommodation for longer delays. In disruption linked to airspace closures, fixed compensation is often not payable, but rerouting and refund options may still apply.

For a fuller explanation of passenger rights and how cancellations and delays are handled, see our flight cancellations guide.

What could travel insurance cover?

Travel insurance can help with disruption, but cover varies significantly by policy and may not apply in all circumstances.

Some policies may cover:

• Accommodation and meals during extended delays

• Alternative transport costs in limited circumstances

• Missed connections, depending on policy wording

However, it’s important to check the exclusions carefully:

• Most policies exclude acts of war, civil unrest and airspace closures linked to conflict

• Many policies only begin covering costs after a delay reaches a minimum number of hours

• Insurers usually expect you to use the airline’s rebooking or refund options first

• Claims typically require written confirmation of the delay or cancellation and itemised receipts

With disruption linked to conflict or government airspace restrictions, cover may be limited or unavailable - you'll need to check with your insurer directly.

If you think you may need to claim, keep all documentation and review the travel disruption and exclusions sections of your policy before making assumptions about what’s covered.

For more details, see our travel insurance guide.

Looking for a different route?

If you’re comparing alternative routes, we’ve introduced the Layovers filter to help travellers refine their connection preferences when searching for new flights. It allows you to exclude specific connecting airports and adjust layover duration. The feature is available on desktop and mobile web.

If your flight is disrupted: What to remember

Airspace closures and other travel disruptions can change quickly. If you’re travelling soon, keep checking your airline’s official updates, understand your refund and rebooking rights, and review your travel insurance policy carefully. Bookmark this guide for updates and use it as a step-by-step reference if your flight is delayed or cancelled.