UK air travel faces potential disruption after Poland temporarily suspended operations at two of its airports.
The closures at Lublin and Rzeszow in the country’s southeast were confirmed by the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency.
The measure was implemented following Russian drone strikes targeting western Ukraine, according to the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces.
A statement from the command indicated that military aviation operations were underway in connection with attacks conducted by the Russian Federation using jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles against western Ukrainian territory.
The statement added that ground-based air defence systems and radar reconnaissance units had been placed on standby.
Command officials described the measures as preventive, designed to secure airspace and provide protection in regions bordering threatened areas.
The airport closures followed an incident at the weekend involving a Russian strike near the Polish border.
A train travelling behind one carrying European diplomats was struck during the attack.
Multiple UK airports operate routes to Poland, with services primarily provided by budget carriers including Ryanair and Wizz Air.
Departure points in the UK include London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds Bradford, Bristol and Edinburgh.
Direct connections to Lublin and Rzeszow are available from a limited number of UK airports, with London terminals and Bristol serving as primary hubs for these specific destinations.
Under UK regulations, airlines bear responsibility for passenger care when journeys are cancelled, irrespective of the circumstances behind the disruption.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has outlined entitlements available to affected travellers, encompassing accommodation, meals and transport between airports and hotels when rebooking extends to the following day.
When airlines cannot arrange assistance during widespread disruption, passengers may organise their own accommodation and transport, with costs recoverable afterward.
The CAA advises retaining all receipts and limiting expenditure to reasonable amounts, as carriers typically decline reimbursement for premium lodging or alcohol purchases.
Travellers retain the option of claiming a full refund for unused portions of tickets or accepting alternative routing.
Eligibility for compensation depends on the reason for cancellation, with extraordinary circumstances including severe weather, industrial action at airports or air traffic control facilities generally precluding financial awards.
Compensation entitlements also relate to notice periods and replacement flight scheduling.
Passengers informed of cancellation fewer than seven days before departure may pursue compensation based on alternative flight timings.
Financial awards are not available when replacement departures operate no more than one hour ahead of the original scheduled time and arrivals occur within two hours of the planned arrival time.