Flights across the UK are set to be disrupted after major European airports have been shut.
Two Polish airports have been temporarily closed due to nearby military activity, according to the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency.
Many airports across the UK offer flights to Poland, with these expected to face issues.
2 airports in Poland shut after Russia attack on Ukraine
The closure of Lublin and Rzeszow airports in southeastern Poland comes following a Russian drone attack on western Ukraine.
The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said the military aviation operations in its airspace were “in connection with strikes carried out by the Russian Federation using jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles on the western territory of Ukraine”.
It added: “Ground-based air defense systems and radar reconnaissance systems have reached a state of readiness.
“These actions are of a preventive nature and are aimed at securing airspace and its protection, especially in areas adjacent to threatened regions.”
The decision also comes after former UK prime minister Boris Johnson was near a Russian strike near the Polish border at the weekend.
It hit the train behind one carrying European diplomats.
Numerous airports across the UK offer direct flights to Poland, primarily served by low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Wizz Air.
🚨🇵🇱 BREAKING: Poland has temporarily shut its airports in Lublin and Rzeszow due to military operations in its airspace
The armed forces say this is in response to Russian UAV attacks in Western Ukraine
— Politics Global (@PolitlcsGlobal) September 17, 2026
Airports that fly there include the likes of London Heathrow, London Gatwick, as well as other regional airports, such as Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds Bradford, Bristol and Edinburgh.
However, not all UK airports fly to Lublin and Rzeszów, with direct and indirect flights to these Polish cities only available from a select few airports, primarily in London and regional hubs like Bristol.
It is yet to be seen whether further Polish airports will shut.
What are your rights if your flight is cancelled?
Flight cancellations can quickly turn travel plans upside down, but passengers are not without rights when journeys are disrupted.
Under UK law, airlines are required to provide care and assistance in the event of a cancelled flight, regardless of the reason for the disruption.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has clarified what travellers are entitled to, including accommodation, meals, and transport between the airport and hotel if re-routed to the following day.
The CAA said: “The airline must provide you with these items until it is able to fly you to your destination, no matter how long the delay lasts or what has caused it.”
If airlines are unable to arrange assistance due to large-scale disruption, passengers are advised to organise their own accommodation and transport and reclaim the costs later.
The CAA said: “If you end up paying for things yourself, keep every receipt and do not spend more than is reasonable.
“Airlines are unlikely to refund you for things like luxury hotels or alcohol.
“Some will provide guidance on reasonable costs.”
Travellers must also be given the choice between a full refund for unused parts of their ticket or an alternative flight.
Compensation may be available depending on the cause of the cancellation.
The CAA said: “Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.”
Compensation is also dependent on the notice given and the timing of the replacement flight.
The CAA said: “If you received less than seven days’ notice of the cancellation, you can claim compensation based on the timings of the alternative flight.
“If your new flight departs no more than one hour before the scheduled time of your original flight and your new flight arrives less than two hours after the scheduled time of your original flight, you are not entitled to financial compensation.”
More detailed information on entitlements and compensation can be found on the CAA website (linked above).
Have you ever received compensation due to a flight cancellation? Let us know in the comments.