German tour agency sets up crisis hotline as travellers left stranded

German tour operator Dertour on Monday said it has set up a crisis hotline for its travellers in Middle Eastern countries affected by the ongoing US-Israeli attack on Iran.

The company said a low four-digit number of its customers are in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Israel and Kuwait.

The tourists are unable to fly home after the United States and Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Iran on Saturday, sparking a regional escalation as Tehran fired missiles against US bases in several Gulf states.

Dertour, Germany's second-largest tour operator, said it is unclear how long airspace will be closed in the region.

"Guests who are currently unable to fly home or are waiting for a connecting flight due to airspace closures have been informed by us and are being looked after on site," the company said in a statement.

Local tour guides are available to guests as contact persons, it said. "The tour guides will extend hotel accommodation accordingly or provide alternative rooms in other hotels."

The company has set up a 24-hour hotline staffed by crisis teams who have been specifically trained for such situations, according to the statement.

Travellers in the affected areas are strongly advised to follow safety instructions issued by the German Foreign Office and the guidelines of the local authorities.

"We will inform our guests on site about return journeys as soon as these are possible again and will accompany our guests on their transfer journeys."

Dertour cancelled all trips to the eight countries until at least Thursday. Affected guests can rebook to a later travel date free of charge or, alternatively, receive a full refund of the travel price.

Travellers in other regions are also affected, the company reported.

Alternative flight connections are being sought for transit passengers who are unable to depart as planned due to flight cancellations.

"In cases where we are unable to offer new flight connections, free rebookings or cancellations are possible."

Flight alternatives are also being sought for guests with connections in Middle Eastern hubs whose return flights to Germany have been cancelled.