Overview
- The ADAC estimates that tens of thousands of tourists remain stuck in the Middle East because of flight cancellations and airspace restrictions.
- Employees who cannot return are excused from working, yet their wage claim typically falls away under §326 BGB, labor lawyer Nathalie Oberthür explains.
- There is no state social program to compensate for lost earnings in such cases, according to Oberthür.
- EU air passenger rules may cover care, hotels and rebooking, but lost income is usually not reimbursed in extraordinary circumstances such as political crises or closed airspace.
- Any relief hinges on employer consent, including remote work from abroad, retroactive vacation, overtime reductions or unpaid leave, with disrupted business trips a likely exception where pay may continue.