The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has withdrawn Turkmenistan Airlines permit to operate in the UK leaving thousands of passengers stranded in Asia. The EU flight ban means UK passengers may need to make their own arrangements home.
Placed on the blacklist by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) the airline which flew from Heathrow and Birmingham to Asia has failed to meet international air safety standards.
Those who are stranded are being advised by the CAA to contact Turkmenistan Airlines, their travel agent or their travel insurance company. Passengers who are unable to return to the UK via Turkmenistan Airlines may need to make alternative arrangements home.
With regards travel insurance, there would be limited cover available and passengers would need to check their travel insurance policy carefully. If they are yet to depart for their holiday and the flights have been affected, they should check their travel insurance policy and see if it offers cancellation cover for ‘anything which you could not have been expected to foresee or avoid’, however this cover isn’t commonly available.
Those who have already travelled and are delayed returning home due to this issue, should check to see if their policy offers cover for delays on return journeys, again this cover isn’t offered across the board on travel insurance policies, so before contacting the travel insurance provider check to see if this cover is available.
If passengers have booked their flights independently, they should contact the airline directly for a refund or if they have used a credit card, they may be protected by the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Package holiday bookings may be protected by ATOL.