A British couple have described their trip to Thailand as a "holiday from hell" after widespread flight cancellations linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East left them stranded thousands of miles from home.

Laura Webster, 40, and her husband Paul, from Birmingham in the United Kingdom, were enjoying a holiday in Phuket when the conflict triggered large-scale airspace closures across parts of the Middle East.

The couple had planned to fly with Emirates to Dubai before continuing on to Birmingham, but their connecting flights were cancelled as airlines reduced or suspended services through major regional hubs.

The pair have been told by their travel agent that there are currently no available flights that could take them home for at least two weeks.

Like many travellers flying between Europe and Asia, their journey relied on transit through the Gulf region, where the closure of airspace and disruption at airports has forced airlines to suspend or reroute services.

“We’ve got work, we’ve got kids.

We want to get back as soon as possible,” Webster said, explaining that the couple’s young children are being cared for in Britain by former partners while they try to arrange alternative travel.

The couple initially attempted to secure other routes back to the United Kingdom, including options via Singapore and Hong Kong, but available seats were scarce.

One potential itinerary through Japan was priced at around £10,000 per person, far beyond what they were prepared to pay.

Airlines operating through Dubai have warned that only passengers whose onward connections are confirmed will be accepted for travel.

Carriers including Emirates have been operating a reduced schedule as aviation networks across the Middle East adjust to the volatile security situation.

The disruption reflects a wider crisis in global aviation.

Airspace closures across several Middle Eastern countries have led to thousands of cancelled flights worldwide, affecting key international transit hubs that link Europe, Africa and Asia.

The ripple effect has been felt across Southeast Asia, including Thailand, where dozens of flights to and from the Middle East have been cancelled.

Airports and tourism authorities in the country have worked with airlines and hotels to support travellers forced to extend their stays while waiting for alternative routes home.

Thailand itself remains safe and fully operational as a travel destination, with its airports open and authorities coordinating assistance for affected visitors.

However, the crisis has exposed how heavily long-haul travel between Europe and Asia depends on transit through Gulf aviation hubs.

For Webster and her husband, the uncertainty has turned what began as a relaxing getaway into a stressful wait for a path home.

After only two days of enjoying their holiday, they have spent the rest of their trip anxiously searching for flights and hoping that international air travel will soon return to normal.