Tenerife residents stranded in Thailand as war closes airspace
The war initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran has unleashed a military conflict with global repercussions. The Middle East, a crucial bridge between Europe and Asia where countless commercial aircraft fly over its borders and stop in cities like Dubai or Abu Dhabi, has seen its airspace shut down. This closure has left many people stranded far from home with no answers. Among those affected is a group from Tenerife who have been forced to remain in Thailand.
A holiday extended indefinitely
Tenerife native María Tomé, along with her companions Borja, Guayarmina and Juan, is one of those caught out after beginning a fifteen-day stay in the ‘Land of Smiles’. Their holiday has now been extended indefinitely due to the war. “Last Saturday our flight was cancelled by email just a few hours before departure and with no information about what was happening,” she explained. A healthcare worker by profession, María has found herself in an unexpected situation with no assistance. “Both the airline and the embassy tell us they cannot help us with accommodation, food, or anything.”
No help from airline or embassy
She faces this situation alongside more than thirty other Spaniards who find themselves trapped in Thailand. “From the embassy they told us they were very sorry but could do nothing. Even our relatives have called Madrid and were told they knew nothing about Spaniards being stuck in Thailand,” María stated. She purchased her flight with Etihad Airways through an intermediary. So far, she has received no positive response from either institution. “We have a WhatsApp group with more Spaniards and through that we have some information. Our airline has told us nothing.”
There has been no helpful response from the highest Spanish authority on Thai soil either. “From the embassy, the only thing they gave us was an email address. I wrote to them to say we needed help, that we had no information of any kind and that there were many people who could not afford the costs in Thailand. They replied asking for my phone number and no one has contacted me.”
Soaring costs and dwindling options
The option of a refund for the money paid for the trip is possible, but far from convenient. Flight prices have skyrocketed… with no guarantee of being able to board them. “We bought the ticket for less than six hundred euros. Now prices have risen to three thousand euros. Our airline is not rebooking us but has open tickets for sale, but then they cancel them the day before or on the same day. It’s no longer just about the money, but about taking another flight and not being able to leave for the same reason.”
They have been able to afford their stay in Thailand for the moment, but not all the Spaniards stranded on Asian soil are so fortunate. “We are with a girl who was left alone here because her friends managed to travel. We have seen loads of people stranded at the airport because they cannot cope with the unforeseen costs.” They have even encountered medical issues, with cases where it has not been possible to obtain certain medication. “There is a person in the group of Spaniards who needs antidepressants. We went to a health centre and they provided nothing, nor was it possible to get the medication in question.”
A viral plea for help
María herself shared a video on Instagram that has gone viral. In it, she commented on the situation they are experiencing in Thailand, with the corresponding fear that an uncomfortable situation caused by the war will drag on. Waiting for a possible solution from the airline or the embassy, these Tenerife residents remain in Thailand alongside the rest of the Spaniards after a holiday that has turned into an uncomfortable ordeal, with the difficulty of being far from home in a place with a completely different language.
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