A British holidaymaker has been stranded in Thailand for 11 days beyond his planned return due to disruption caused by the war in the Middle East. Paul Lynn, from Chester-le-Street in County Durham, was due to fly from Bangkok on 7 March via Dubai and Dublin, but his journey was halted. He said multiple replacement flights offered by Emirates had been repeatedly cancelled or rescheduled, including four changes within 24 hours.
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Lynn had travelled to Thailand for a two-week holiday with a friend from Dublin, but their stay has now extended to nearly a month. The disruption followed conflict-related issues affecting air travel, including a reported drone incident near Dubai International Airport on Monday. Emirates does not operate direct flights from Bangkok to Dublin, meaning passengers must transit through Dubai.
Lynn expressed concern about being routed through Dubai, citing UK Foreign Office advice against travelling there unless essential. He said: “They’re saying, don’t worry, we’ll look after you. Well, I’m sorry, but if they’re going to fly us into a war zone, I don’t know how they’re going to look after us.” The maintenance engineer added that while his employer had been understanding, the situation was becoming unsustainable.
The airline has offered a refund if he chooses to book with another carrier, but Lynn said this would only cover a few hundred pounds, while a direct alternative flight could cost about £1,800. He added that he is currently paying expenses out of pocket, with his credit card nearly maxed out. Emirates advised affected passengers to check its website for available options.
The BBC reported that Lynn is currently scheduled to fly on Sunday 22 March, but remains uncertain whether the flight will proceed. He said that if it is cancelled again, he may book a more expensive route that avoids Dubai and attempt to reclaim the cost through travel insurance. The situation highlights the challenges faced by travellers navigating flight disruptions linked to geopolitical instability.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now BBC 19 Mar 2026