Wizz Air cancels Dubai and Abu Dhabi flights: your rights

A season-long cancellation can affect both your outward and return trip. Check every booked segment, date and operating carrier rather than using the winter programme’s first day. Ask Wizz Air to explain options for the whole booking and identify which part any offered refund covers.

EU261 normally covers departures from the EU on any carrier and arrivals into the EU from outside it on an EU carrier. The operating airline and route matter. A strike notice or schedule announcement alone is not proof that your booked flight was cancelled.

Standard compensation for cancellation is normally not due if you were personally informed at least 14 days before your departure. A press announcement alone does not prove notification. Later notice requires assessment of offered re-routing and the actual cause. Security and airspace restrictions may be extraordinary; a commercial reason is not automatically extraordinary.

For a covered cancellation, you should be offered a choice: reimbursement, re-routing at the earliest opportunity under comparable conditions, or travel at a later suitable date subject to availability. These rights are separate from standard compensation. If you still want to travel, ask for re-routing before choosing reimbursement.

When the care rules apply, the airline should provide reasonable meals and communication. Necessary overnight accommodation and transfers may also be required while you await re-routing at the earliest opportunity. Ask the airline to arrange help and keep itemised receipts for reasonable expenses if it fails to do so. Care is not automatic reimbursement of every pre-booked holiday cost.

Removing a route does not remove the EU261 right to re-routing. Travel at the earliest opportunity may require another carrier under comparable conditions. Ask Wizz Air for written alternatives and keep its response before arranging replacement travel yourself; reimbursement of self-booked costs needs assessment.