Basically, all airlines have been blacklisted because they don’t meet European safety standards. They’re banned from flying in Europe but continue operating in Tanzania.
The main issue is that travel agencies’ civil liability no longer applies to blacklisted airlines.
So we can’t allow clients to fly with these carriers.
Of course, there’s huge pressure from European agencies, which are forced to disrupt their plans or even cancel trips because of this.
Personally, I’ve got a trip planned for February 2026 to the southern parks in Tanzania, so I’ll be keeping an eye on how this develops.
Do any of you have updates?
Thanks!
Blacklist: confirmed, Tanzania grants traffic rights to Qatar and Ethiopian
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
Thanks Jérôme for this info, which explains that the issue has been partially and temporarily resolved (?). Still, Tanzanian authorities have a lot on their plate.
To be continued
On a personal note, I’ve planned a trip for February 2026 to the southern parks in Tanzania, so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on how this situation develops...
Hello,
While waiting for a positive response from the Tanzanian authorities (implementation of a monitoring system/procedure to enforce international aviation regulations, likely outsourced to a Western or European country), the alternative is overland transfers. The southern Tanzanian reserves like Mikumi, Ruaha, and Selous are fully accessible by car, though it can take a full day to reach Ruaha, for example.
The impact of being blacklisted is so massive for the economy (and jobs) that the Tanzanian government will *have* to "step up"... On the other hand, it’s easy to imagine that prices for all services will skyrocket...!!
Hi there,
Everything’s going to come to a halt for travelers on organized trips through agencies. For everyone else—those taking day trips in Zanzibar with local agencies—I don’t think much will change.
In theory, it might not be a bad thing if it eases tourist pressure, because day safaris from Zanzibar (or elsewhere) are a real mess.
Basically, if you stick to safaris in the north, I don’t think this ban will make much difference. The real hassle is for those doing combo safari/Zanzibar trips, as it blocks local companies for travelers booked with European agencies. It’s also tricky for anyone who used to fly Tanzania Airlines or Precision Air from Dar to Zanzibar after an international flight—but agencies can offer ferries as an alternative or direct flights from Europe to Zanzibar.
All in all, the impact seems less significant than it might initially appear.
I’ve no doubt Tanzania will quickly sort this out, though it’s just another problematic factor that could affect the growth of its tourism.
Some news shared by the travel agency arranging our 2026 trip:
"First off, you should know that the EU has blacklisted Tanzanian civil aviation, which means all airlines—whether they're safe or not, insured or not—are lumped together.
The airlines we work with all have international insurance, well-maintained fleets, and well-trained pilots. Regardless, due to the EU blacklist, they're in the crosshairs.
It seems that in France (but not Belgium!), this creates issues for selling tickets. One option our agents are using is having clients pay us directly for flight tickets.
I think this issue should be resolved in the coming weeks anyway, since it’s really affecting the entire tourism industry (even hot-air balloon safaris are blacklisted 😅!). So, there’s pressure at all levels to fix this as soon as possible..."
To be continued.
Have a great Sunday!
Some Tanzanian airlines are on a blacklist because they don’t meet safety standards, which limits the liability of travel agencies.
That’s all well and good, but do you think the state of buses and cars in Tanzania would pass a technical inspection in Europe?
Does this worry travel agencies?
I agree that a plane crash is generally more serious than a bus crash—though after seeing how many passengers are packed into Tanzanian buses (all seats taken and lots of people standing) compared to the limited number of passengers on the small planes I’ve seen there (around twenty people, sometimes fewer), I’m not so sure.
I saw a crashed bus in Tanzania but don’t remember how many passengers lost their lives—at least a few, though.
Good evening,
I think travel agencies and insurers are just doing what European regulations force them to do: if airlines are on the blacklist, the travel agency’s insurance can no longer cover them, so if there’s no insurance, the agency can’t offer flights with those airlines.
It’s not their choice.
Some Tanzanian airlines' planes are on a blacklist
Not "Some", but "ALL" airlines, including Air Tanzania with its medium and long-haul flights, not to mention regional routes to neighboring countries....
...
For example, at Air Tanzania: modern and recent aircraft...
D.H. Dash8, Boeing 737Max, Boeing 787... in Dar es Salaam in June 2024.
According to reliable info I got this morning from my favorite local tour operator, it’s not the Tanzanian airlines that are targeted by the European Union’s blacklist...
But the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority (T.C.A.A.) that isn’t doing the necessary oversight work. That’s what I personally suspected...!!
So, a number of airlines are still operating their flights. Some insurers are even willing to cover the risk.
On the other hand, another bit of bad/good news:
The mandatory insurance required for all travelers arriving in Zanzibar was also supposed to be imposed in mainland Tanzania, but its enforcement has been pushed back to early 2026....
Precision Air... I took it in 2022, and there was probably less than 15 minutes between landing and taking off again—I didn’t find that very "standard"...
And a plane from the airline crashed a few months later... 😕
Il n'y a pas de problème sans solution... et si il n'y a pas de solution, il n'y a pas de problème !
Precision Air... I took it in 2022, and there was barely 15 minutes between landing and taking off again—I didn’t find that very "standard"...
And a plane from the airline crashed a few months later... 😕
Hello,
Regarding plane crashes, you should look up and carefully read the conclusions of the investigation committee on the accident mentioned, and above all, avoid jumping to conclusions yourself.
For the 15 minutes between touchdown and takeoff, here’s a possible scenario:
The plane flies from A to C with a short stopover in B to pick up more passengers. I don’t see anything unusual about a 15-minute stopover, especially if one of the two flights—A-B or B-C—is short...
But also, never forget a basic principle an African friend taught me:
Africa is Unpredictable!!
Personally, I’ve got a trip planned for February 2026 to the southern parks in Tanzania, so I’ll be keeping an eye on how this situation develops.
Hi Loïc,
Did you eventually manage to finalize your plans for your trip to southern Tanzania, to Ruaha and Selous?
In particular, did you find a solution for local air transport?
I just came across your question. Sorry for the late reply.
Our trip to Tanzania is planned for February 2026. The agency Objectif Nature, which is handling the organization of this trip, let me know today that the issue with Tanzanian airlines still isn’t resolved.
As a result, no European travel agency can cover flights with a carrier from that country. Their insurance wouldn’t cover them in case of any problems.
The solution being considered (unless things change by February 2026) is to buy our domestic flight tickets in Tanzania directly from a local ground operator.
To be continued. No need to worry—there’s *almost* always a solution in Africa.
Hi there, I’m finalizing a trip in early February, and I’ve been offered a flight between Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar with Ethiopian Airlines on a B737. Departure at 2:10 AM, arrival at 3:30 AM.
Hi,
Ethiopian Airlines is the largest African airline. It has captured the Arusha-Zanzibar route segment, which sees a lot of passengers. It was already partially serving this segment since some of its flights arriving in Zanzibar or Arusha continued on to Arusha or Zanzibar. There’s no issue with this airline—it’s a profitable route, after all.
The main problem is that the Tanzanian Ministry of Transport isn’t properly monitoring or overseeing the local fleet. That’s the root of the issue and the reason behind the ban on Tanzanian airlines, most of which are actually reliable.
The most affected flights are those operated by numerous airlines using Cessna Caravans or Embraer Brasilias, serving bush airstrips in reserves or low-frequency, low-capacity cross-country routes.
That’s why the solution suggested to Simon was to book his own tickets for his flights (and fly without insurance coverage).
Hi there, I’m finalizing a trip in early February, and I’m being offered a flight between Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar with Ethiopian Airlines on a B737. Departure at 2:10 AM, arrival at 3:30 AM.
1) Daytime and "risky" (= no insurance)
2) Nighttime and safe
Both options are valid, and I’d definitely hesitate too! 🤔 😱
One People, One Destiny... Jumuiya ya Afrika ya Mashariki
Using Ethiopian Airlines flights between Arusha (Killi airport) and Zanzibar only covers a small portion of those who need to travel within the country. For example, to reach the reserves (in the north or south of the country), the ONLY option left will be local airlines.
Checking Flightradar24, you can see that air traffic in Tanzania isn’t limited to Ethiopian Airlines flights—far from it.
Just a heads-up—the air transport situation in Tanzania isn’t improving. European travel agencies are in a tough spot when it comes to selling packages that include flights with Tanzanian airlines. In fact, the French agency Objectif Nature, which I’ve used for years to book all our trips to Africa, has had to stop selling our upcoming trip because it includes domestic flights to Selous and Ruaha. Insurance won’t cover it.
So, their Tanzanian ground operator will handle all the bookings instead.
Bottom line: if you’re planning a trip to Tanzania that involves flights with Tanzanian airlines, stay alert.
Our trip to the southern Tanzania parks is slowly but surely approaching.
I’d mentioned earlier that European agencies—including French ones—are banned from booking flights for Europeans with Tanzanian airlines (the ban is still in place). The workaround we found is to have a local company organize the trip for us.
Our French agency, Objectif Nature, went through the Tanzanian agency Asanterra (which Puma2A knows well), run by a Belgian. After reading Alain’s ("Puma2A") comments, I’m not worried.
But another issue just came up: RwandAir, with whom we’d bought our round-trip tickets, just canceled our outbound flight and rescheduled it... 3 days later. I refused and asked for a refund on the round-trip tickets since they’re inseparable. So far, after three emails to RwandAir, I’ve only received confirmation that our tickets were canceled—but no written confirmation of the refund, even though it’s a legal obligation:
1. European Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004
Within the European Union, Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 applies when:
the flight departs from an EU airport; or
the flight arrives in the EU and is operated by an EU airline.
In the event of a flight cancellation, the airline must offer passengers a choice between:
a full refund of the ticket (within a maximum of 7 days);
re-routing to the final destination, either at the earliest opportunity or at a later date at the passenger’s convenience;
where relevant, a return flight to the original point of departure if the canceled flight was part of a round trip.
To be continued, because in the meantime, I’ve already rebooked flights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This trip hasn’t been easy to organize this time.
But another problem has just arisen—Rwandair, from whom we bought our round-trip tickets, just canceled our outbound flight and rescheduled it... 3 days later.
Your experience seems to confirm the trend, because on this site, RwandAir has been getting quite a few negative reviews—fairly or not?
Keep us posted!
For this summer, we had (among other options) the choice of RwandAir in business class for only 300 € more than Air France/KLM in economy. After a long hesitation 😛, we’re going with the European group—even if we’ll arrive more tired . Customer service will be easier to reach in case of unexpected issues.
To be continued, because in the meantime, I’ve rebooked tickets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you don’t mind me asking, who did you book with?
One People, One Destiny... Jumuiya ya Afrika ya Mashariki
Rwandair, from whom we had bought our round-trip tickets, just canceled our outbound flight and rescheduled it... 3 days later.
Not easy to organize this trip this time.
Loïc
Hi Loïc,
This isn’t the first time I’ve heard about Rwandair canceling flights!!
For those who want to go to Tanzania (North or South), here’s a reminder of the reliable airlines that operate flights from France to Tanzania:
- Air France with a direct flight from Paris, I believe.
- Ethiopian Airlines (which I’ve taken 5 times) via Addis Ababa, departing from Paris or Marseille.
- Qatar Airways (which I just took to Kenya) departing from Paris or Nice.
- I’ve also flown SWISS from Zurich (very good but too complicated for me to get to Zurich) and I’m not sure if they still fly to Tanzania??
Avoid Kenya Airways (you’re packed in like sardines in their B-787...)
Hope you get a resolution with RwandAir!!
Safe travels, and we’re looking forward to your trip report when you return.
With Kenya Airways because it's one of the few that arrives and departs at decent daytime hours, not at 3 AM.
I know this airline since I’ve already traveled with them to Kenya.
With Kenya Airways because it's one of the few that arrives and departs at decent daytime hours, not at 3 AM.
I know this airline since I’ve already traveled with them to Kenya.
Great choice 🙂. Approved!
Africa from the moment you board.
Plus, with Kenya Airways, if there’s a cancellation/delay on the second outbound flight and/or the first return flight, their subsidiary Precision Air (PW) will take over to/from Dar es Salaam/Zanzibar/Kilimanjaro, and you’ll be prioritized!🙂
One People, One Destiny... Jumuiya ya Afrika ya Mashariki
Could you share your impressions of local flights, especially in the bush, for your connections to Ruaha and Selous during your stay/safari?
Your thoughts on the apparent safety of these flights? (in relation to the blacklist)
In June 2024, the bush airstrips in Mikumi and Selous were under reconstruction by the Chinese. I also heard that in Ruaha, the Chinese were building a new airfield.
Could you let us know, please, whether the runways used for your flights between these reserves were paved or still just dirt "airstrips"?
Have you heard any updates about the evolution of the local airlines' "blacklist" status?
Best regards,
Puma2A
If you have any photos of the new facilities... feel free to share them here! Thanks.
Here’s a quick recap of our flights in Tanzania with AURIC AIR.
3 flights with the same pilot between:
- Dar es Salaam and Ruaha: 2-hour flight
- Ruaha and Nyerere: 1h15 flight
- Nyerere and Dar es Salaam: 45-minute flight
Flights went smoothly in a Cessna Grand Caravan like this one:
Just a reminder—if Tanzanian airlines have been blacklisted by the European Union, it’s not due to their fault or any negligence on their part, but because Tanzanian civil aviation regulators are unable to guarantee compliance with international safety standards!!!!!
Yes, Alain, two airfields with nice paved runways are under construction in Ruaha and Nyerere and should be operational this summer. Goal: to welcome 30-40 passenger planes from Zanzibar. Maybe the end of the absolute tranquility observed in these two parks.
Otherwise, I hope to make progress on my recap of this trip with lots of photos.
I’m also worried this might spell the end of the unique (and really pleasant) vibe in these two reserves—and Mikumi’s too 😕. Plus, it could attract Chinese tourists, and that would honestly be a nightmare! 🤪
Hi Loic,
It’s worth noting that EVERYTHING related to aviation in Tanzania is being questioned/challenged—not just the airlines (which are on the EASA/European Blacklist). This includes airports, flight crews, air traffic control, everyone’s training (which requires licenses), mechanics, and the airlines themselves...
You have to understand that it’s the safety regulator, TCAA—Tanzania’s CAA/DGAC—that’s officially under scrutiny. So, all certification and oversight processes that depend on its monitoring and verification (according to international standards—ICAO) are "being questioned." Even if you fly with Ethiopian Airlines to Tanzania, they have to land at an airport that’s (likely) poorly monitored and may have seriously inadequate safety standards—or even none at all... It’s also a major issue for the insurance of airlines that land in Tanzania (risks, higher premiums)...
Yes, it’s a really complicated situation—I agree. I don’t understand why the Tanzanian Government/TCAA isn’t asking for (international) help to resolve this as quickly as possible?
Thanks, Chris
Primary EU Concerns
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Commission cited systemic vulnerabilities in national aviation oversight, focusing on the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA):
Regulatory Deficiencies: The TCAA was deemed unable to ensure that local air carriers comply with international safety standards.
Personnel Shortages: A critical shortage of adequately trained and qualified personnel to conduct regulatory tasks.
Flawed Oversight Processes: Ineffective management and monitoring of both flight operations and general airworthiness across registered aircraft.
Bonjour,
Je pense partir bientôt pour la Malaisie
J'ai vu des prix interessant et vol direct de Paris avec Malaysia Airlines
Est ce une compagnie fiable?
Merci pour vos retours
J'effectue régulièrement des voyages depuis plus de vingt ans
maís c'est la première fois qu'un compagnies me traite si mal que Air France.
Deux voyages, deux fois des problèmes. Le dernier:
Voyage de Séoul à Rennes. Dernière partie de París CDG à Rennes par Air France.
J'arrive à Paris et je me rends directement chez Air France pour obtenir la carte d'embarquement jusqu'à Rennes. On n'y assure que mon bagage suit jusqu'à Rennes.
Arrivé à Rennes, pas de bagage, comme c'est le cas de 5 personnes.
Le bureau d'Air France est fermé et le oersonnel de l'aéroport m'assure qu''il y a rarement quelqu'un.
Avec l'aide du personnel de l'aéroport, je fais une réclamation par internet et Mon bagage est quadi directement localisé, en conséquence je l'aurai le lendemain.
4 jours plus tard, le bagage est toujours au même endroitvà CDG, rien ne bouge.
Le problème est qu'Air France m'a pas de service clientèle. Ce qu'ils appellent service clientes, c'est un service qui répond après une heure et qui vous répète ce qu''il y a sur le FORMULAIRE informatique. Aucune coordination, aucune moyen de faire bouger les choses, je suppose que Air France préfère me payer l'indemnisation après 21 jours que se bouger le cul.
J'ai déjà eu des bagages égarés dans d'autres voyages maís c'est la première fois que je vous un tel je-m'en-foutisme foutisme et manque de professionalisme..
Hi there,
We had planned a trip to Sicily in August, and due to the volcanic eruption of Mount Etna, my flight was canceled. The airline is refunding the outbound flight, but none of the non-refundable expenses: accommodation booked through Booking, rental car, and the return flight aren’t covered. My SUPER Gold card doesn’t work in this specific case! :( If anyone has been in this situation, could you let me know if you were able to get any recourse and, if so, how?
Thanks in advance
Back in February, I booked a flight with Air France-KLM from Lyon to San Diego with a layover in Amsterdam (flights operated by KLM). The flight is scheduled for late August.
My Lyon→Amsterdam flight was canceled by KLM in June, and a replacement flight the evening before was booked for me. So, I’ll end up spending the night at Amsterdam Airport to catch my flight to San Diego the next morning.
Since the cancellation happened more than 14 days before departure, I know I’m not entitled to financial compensation (EU Regulation 261/2004). But am I entitled to reimbursement for a hotel night in Amsterdam?
Hi,
Air Cairo offers good prices on domestic flights and schedules that work for us, but is this airline reliable?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Hi,
I booked an Etihad ticket on their website for Dusseldorf-Abu Dhabi. In the first name field, I entered all my first names (something I never do and I regret it, but the site was confusing). Everything is spelled correctly, but the problem is that I just received my new passport and only my first two first names and the first letter of the third appear—there’s no trace of the last one.
I called Etihad, and of course, they tried to charge me $100 USD to remove that last first name. But I’m hesitant because usually, I only put my first first name and not the others, and I’ve never had an issue... So I’m wondering if having that extra first name, which isn’t on my passport, could get me denied at check-in.
Thanks for your feedback!
Hi everyone,
Next January, I’m heading to India.
My outbound flight is with Emirates from Paris to Dubai, then another Emirates flight from Dubai to Calcutta.
Could anyone tell me how the connection works? I’ve heard there’s a dedicated Emirates zone, but how does it actually work in practice—I’ve got a 2-hour layover.
Thanks so much!
Take care.
I’d like to fly to Malta from Lyon.
I’ve read a lot of negative reviews about KM MALTA, especially regarding baggage fees at the airport.
Of course, I don’t want to book through third parties (like SkyScanner, Opodo…).
AIR FRANCE offers tickets to MALTA in partnership, if I understood correctly.
On AIR FRANCE, the tickets include everything (checked baggage, cabin bag, small personal item, seat), whereas with KM MALTA, everything is extra and the final price is almost double!
In this case, is AIR FRANCE considered the same as sites like Opodo or others?
Given the price difference, I’m hesitant…
Have any of you booked with AIR FRANCE for this destination? How did it go?
Thanks,
HERVE
Hi everyone, I’ve unfortunately only just noticed that I booked two flight tickets, but I made a mistake on the second first name. Basically, my computer auto-filled and typed my first name twice, so both tickets are in my first name. Only the last names—mine and my friend’s—are correct.
TAP Portugal refuses to make the change because they consider it a change of passenger, even though it’s clearly a typo (plus, my last name isn’t common).
I’m leaving in 5 days, and buying a new ticket would cost 3 times the original price. Has anyone been in this situation before? I’d like to try negotiating at the airport, but it’s a gamble… Thanks in advance for any advice!
Since it came into force, Regulation 261/2004 of the European Parliament and Council, which defines air passenger rights, has faced fierce resistance from airlines, backed by IATA (the association representing almost all passenger airlines).
Beyond the airlines' often abusive—and even frequently bad-faith—resistance to passenger rights, IATA has been lobbying EU institutions for years, with the Council paying close attention for a long time.
As a result, the Council and the Commission have been proposing revisions to Regulation 261/2004 for years that are particularly unfavorable to passengers. The latest attempt nearly eliminated the right to compensation for delays of 3 hours or more upon arrival at the final destination.
However, since this is a regulation of both the European Parliament AND the Council, the two bodies had to agree.
But the European Parliament has always stood firm, consistently responding that passenger rights must be preserved.
After 11 years of struggle, it seems likely that we’re finally nearing the end of the match between the European Commission, the Council (the 27 heads of state or government), and the European Parliament.
Indeed, the Commission and the European Parliament have agreed on a text that will be debated again on Monday, July 6, 2026, with a vote scheduled for July 7, 2026. It’s very likely that this text, which would come into force in a year, will be adopted.
The main changes would be as follows:
- Families with children will no longer be forced to pay to sit together on planes;
- A flight will be considered canceled (not just delayed) if it departs more than one hour late;
- Right to compensation for arrival at the final destination if the delay exceeds 3 hours (no longer "3 hours OR more"). The arrival time will be when the plane, having reached its parking spot, engages its parking brakes (no longer when the aircraft door opens);
- Airlines can no longer refuse boarding or charge extra on the return flight for a passenger who didn’t take the outbound flight;
- If a flight is canceled, the airline must, at the same time as informing passengers of the event, offer the choice between a refund and re-routing, and inform them of their rights to assistance and, if applicable, compensation;
- The airline must, without undue delay, inform passengers of the reason;
- In the case of a connecting flight, if the connection is missed and the delay at the final destination entitles the passenger to compensation, the responsible airline will be liable. This is very different from the current situation, where, under the KLM ruling, any airline operating a segment of the flight is liable for compensation. This promises more disputes that the Court of Justice of the European Union will have to resolve if two separate airlines operating segments of a connecting flight are both responsible for the delay. See this case for an example: https://retardimportantavion.wordpress.com/2026/04/18/swiss-international-air-lines-la-mauvaise-foi/
Moreover, this case demonstrates in advance another potential dispute: It could be argued that it wasn’t a missed connection since the flight was canceled before the first leg even departed.
- Within 96 hours of a flight that could entitle passengers to compensation, the airline must contact them to inform them of their rights and explain the next steps.
- Passengers must claim their right to compensation within 9 months. This is very different from the current situation, as Regulation 261/2004 sets no time limit. Currently, national law applies—in France, the limit is 5 years. The airline must respond within 30 days. If the airline refuses compensation on the grounds of "extraordinary circumstances," it must specify which type of case it refers to from the list in the annex of the new regulation. If the case isn’t on the list, the airline must explain what the event was, why it qualifies as extraordinary circumstances with "clear, substantial, and concise" explanations, and why it’s directly linked to the reason given. It must also declare what "reasonable measures" were taken to mitigate the issue. This is, of course, a huge change in the regulation, with the clear goal of preventing airlines from declaring just anything as "extraordinary circumstances" to avoid compensation.
- If, within 3 hours of a last-minute canceled or delayed flight, the airline hasn’t offered re-routing under comparable transport conditions and as soon as possible—whether on one of its own flights or another airline’s—the passenger will have the right to arrange their own re-routing and demand a refund for the new ticket, up to 400% of the original ticket price. This is a significant improvement that would have likely prevented the case described here: https://retardimportantavion.wordpress.com/2024/01/12/reacheminement-catastrophique-droit-indemnisation-meme-circonstances-extraordinaires-2/
- If a flight is canceled due to "extraordinary circumstances," the airline will only be required to offer up to 3 nights in a hotel. This is a major change, as there’s currently no limit. Expect disputes if the extraordinary circumstances end while the passenger hasn’t been re-routed.
- The price of a flight, as first displayed, must obligatorily include a cabin bag. This doesn’t prevent the airline from offering a price reduction if the passenger waives the cabin bag. This will put an end to abnormal practices, such as (just one example) Condor charging extra for a cabin bag on long-haul flights like Frankfurt (Germany)–Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic)–Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)–Frankfurt.
- Free correction of a passenger’s name if requested 48 hours before departure. Note: This can’t be used to replace one passenger with another—just to correct a typo, e.g., Dupont instead of Dpont.
- Airlines’ websites and apps must include information on how to file a claim.
It’s clear that, despite a few details, these changes are very positive for upholding passenger rights. It remains to be seen whether this text will be definitively adopted on July 7, 2026, as is very likely, and, more importantly, whether IATA will encourage airlines to loyally respect these new rules or persist in their old habits.
I’m planning a trip to Georgia this summer and I’ve been comparing some airlines. I’m not particularly set on flying with Pegasus (though it’s convenient with direct flights from Lyon to Tbilisi), but right off the bat, Pegasus states this:
As of January 1, 2026, all foreign nationals traveling to Georgia for tourism purposes will be required to present valid travel health insurance. Guests who fail to provide the relevant health insurance will not be accepted on our flights to Georgia.
Sincerely,
Pegasus Airlines
In other words, if you don’t show proof of travel health insurance, you’ll be denied boarding.
Personally, my credit card insurance has always been enough for me, and I’d rather not take out extra coverage...
Have any of you run into this issue before? If not, what do you think? Why is Pegasus asking for this proof? Other airlines don’t mention it at all.
I bought my flight ticket with my first (usual) first name, which appears first on my passport. However, I have two first names on my passport, and of course, it’s mentioned in the machine-readable zone at the bottom.
I booked with Turkish Airlines (through an online agency) for a trip to South Korea.
I wanted to know if it would be a problem that I only used my first first name on the ticket, while my passport has two. I had requested through the agency to add the second first name, but the airline refused because it doesn’t meet their general conditions. (They must have seen that the last name and first name were the same, and only the second first name was added.)
So, my ticket has my last name and first first name correctly spelled, and when I check in online, I’ll enter the passport details correctly.
I’ll have a layover in Istanbul on the flight.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Have a great day.
Hi there,
I traveled in June 2025 with Nouvelair Destinations to Hammamet.
I had one checked bag and one carry-on sized 40x24x30, which I usually take on low-cost flights, and I didn’t have any issues. But I just read on a website that Nouvel Air only accepts carry-ons of 40x20x15. I’m flying back to Djerba in June—what do you think? Especially since that size is impossible to find??????? Thanks
Hi, it's my first time taking a plane and I chose EasyJet for a Geneva -> Barcelona flight.
I booked my ticket.
I received my booking reference by email, but I don’t see the actual ticket (barcode or QR code?).
Then I checked in to get the boarding pass with the flight details, QR code, etc. But does this boarding pass act as the ticket?
Because I’ve seen several times online that the flight ticket and the boarding pass aren’t the same thing.
We're leaving for Albania on June 18th. When I validated the flight tickets with Wizz Air on Booking, I only put my son's first name but forgot to include his other three first names on the ticket.
On the passport: SURNAME: Dupont, FIRST NAMES: toto titi tutu tata
On the flight ticket: SURNAME: Dupont, FIRST NAME: toto
I can't seem to reach anyone at Wizz Air to get an answer.
Booking and Wizz Air's chat say I need to modify it, but ChatGPT says it should be fine.
I wanted to know if he can fly like this or if I need to change his ticket?
(It costs 140 €, I know I shouldn't have made a mistake🙁)
Right now, with the war raging in Iran and affecting all the neighboring countries of the Persian Gulf, many airports are completely closed to all traffic.
Several airlines like Qatar Airways, Emirates, and others have almost completely halted their operations.
Whether in the Middle East or Africa, many travelers are stranded—maybe for a long time... A heartfelt thought for them and the struggles this will cause.
Four months ago, I was in Kenya with a flight booked through Qatar Airways... I can’t even imagine how I’d react if I were stuck there now. ??
Wishing all these travelers courage, patience, and success in making it back home.
Hello, some (potentially) good news for Brazil lovers—GOL airline is launching a route to Europe from Rio, starting in September for Lisbon, then Paris at a later date that hasn’t been announced yet.
They’ll be using their new A330-900 neo.
No prices have been announced so far, but hopefully we’ll find direct flights from GIG at a more interesting fare than AF or Latam…
I’m really surprised because in TUI’s new tour packages, the airlines they’re using are of low quality. Before, they used to prioritize major airlines, but now it’s small airlines from small countries—companies with terrible ratings and borderline safety concerns. I even just noticed this note for a Tanzania trip: "We inform you that the domestic flight segment in Tanzania included in your trip is operated by an airline listed on the European Union’s list of air carriers subject to an operating ban within the European Union. This ban only applies to European Union airspace, meaning this airline is not permitted to take off, land, or fly over European airspace. However, this airline is authorized to operate in Tanzania."
This means they’re using airlines on the blacklist!! It’s pretty worrying for safety. What do you all think?
We’re planning a cruise to the UAE/QATAR/OMAN starting from DUBAI, with flights departing from Paris CDG.
Which airlines would you recommend for round-trip flights, with or without a layover?
We need assistance for check-in and boarding/disembarking (my husband is a mobility-impaired traveler who uses a cane and/or a walker).
We’ve done a cruise return from Dubai to Paris CDG before in 2016, with a layover in Istanbul, but we booked the transfer and return flight with COSTA.
For our current plan, it would be with Celestyal, which doesn’t offer round-trip flights from Paris to Dubai.
Should we book very far in advance, or is a few months before departure enough (4/6 months)?
We’re thinking of arriving the day before the ship departs, so we’d need to stay overnight in Dubai—either on the way there or for the return flight, depending on the flight schedules. Could you recommend a hotel not too far from the airport, and how to get to the port from the airport?
Thanks so much for your advice. Have a great Sunday! Mum49
Hi,
It's all in the title—this means nothing's getting through, so no more oil.
In Europe, kerosene reserves are still good, but by the end of April, flights will have to be reduced.
European airports fear running out of kerosene if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reopened within three weeks
I’m reaching out to ask for your help with a bit of a problem:
I booked a flight to Berlin from Orly for April 15th—it’s coming up fast. But I just made an annoying discovery: my passport expired two weeks ago.
From what I understand, in principle, I can still travel within the Schengen Zone with an expired passport as long as it’s been less than five years. However, EasyJet’s website explicitly requires a valid ID (and just to add to the fun, my national ID card has been expired for a while now).
So, I’d love to know: how strict are EasyJet’s ID checks? Do they enforce validity rules strictly and refuse boarding if the ID isn’t valid? Or is it more of a luck-of-the-draw situation?
Basically, should I just write off this trip now, or should I still try my luck—maybe with a little tearful plea? Has anyone here had a similar experience? I can’t be the only one, right!
I booked a flight with RyanAir for next month, with the priority+ option and two cabin bags. So I can take a 10 kg bag with dimensions 55x40x20 in the cabin (plus another smaller one).
The problem is that the smallest suitcase I have (which is supposed to be designed specifically for cabin size standards, according to the manual) has the following dimensions: 55x37x21, so it's just 1 cm over (wheels included) on one of the measurements.
I wasn’t too worried at first, but I’ve read dozens of stories about people’s misadventures and the hassles they’ve had with RyanAir.
Since I don’t want my suitcase to end up in the hold (that would waste time picking it up when I’m already arriving late and need to get to the city center), nor do I want to pay an extra fee (apparently 50 €) for the outbound and return flights for just 1 centimeter—especially since I paid for the "priority+" option and I’m not exactly rolling in money—I’d love some advice.
Have any of you been in the same situation? I’ve read that with this airline, they check bags in templates (testing them in different positions) and are completely uncompromising. I tried contacting customer service, who, as luck would have it, "don’t handle this kind of request," and a rep I spoke to wasn’t much help.
I know it’s a low-cost airline, and I don’t expect luxury or even kindness, but come on—just 1 cm on a short flight with the + option... I’m a bit overwhelmed by everything I’ve read...
Just to clarify, since I’m going for 8 days, I can’t just take one bag for my stuff. I’ve done that for shorter trips before, and it was a hassle—I even had to buy an extra bag for the return trip... Luckily, the inspector was nice about it!
Thanks so much!
I’m a newbie when it comes to air travel :) Hope I posted this in the right section!
When I run searches on Skyscanner, I see that only Lufthansa has flights to Seoul with just one stop. Air France doesn’t show up, even though I thought the French airline served Seoul?
I can’t even log into the Air France website—it keeps glitching.
Hi there,
I’d like to return to Uzbekistan next April for 10 days with my husband to visit our son who lives there. We went last July and I bought the flight tickets (direct flight from Paris on Uzbekistan Airways) about 2 months in advance at very reasonable prices. I’ve been checking for late April for a few weeks now, and the tickets are much more expensive and keep rising. I can’t figure out if the prices are going up because it’s still a bit too early to buy and they’ll likely drop if the planes aren’t full, or if it’s because the period is actually in high demand. For reference, last year I bought my son’s ticket on May 30th for a departure on June 3rd—just 3 days later—at a very low price that didn’t budge at all.
Just in case, does anyone know the pricing trends for this airline and can advise me? Should I wait or not?
Thanks, and feel free to ask if you need any tips about the country!
My wife bought a flight ticket (Lucky Air) under her Thai maiden name and was issued a Chinese visa on her new Thai passport but with her French married name (due to administrative requirements). She was denied boarding by the airline in Bangkok for the flight to Kunming—resulting in the loss of our round-trip flight tickets, including mine since we were traveling together—despite presenting both passports at the airline counter at the same time.
Hi there.
I’m planning a trip to Chile, and the fares from the Colombian airline Avianca are really appealing.
Way cheaper than Air France, for example.
That said, the reviews I’ve seen online aren’t great.
What do you think of this airline?
Have any of you taken long-haul flights with Avianca?
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Eric
This might be a silly question, but I’m traveling to Japan from CDG and returning via Osaka with EVA Air, and I have a pretty bulky aluminum knee brace.
It’s this model:
https://enovis-medtech.eu/fr_FR/OA-FullForce-74358.html
Has anyone had any experience with airport security checks or flying with one of these?
I can't seem to find flights between the Cape Verde islands on the airline's website. No matter the date or route, I always get the same response: "no flights on this date."
See the photo.
Would anyone have an explanation? Surely not all flights are fully booked in July?