UK holiday companies have put packages to Rhodes back on sale from the weekend, despite the wildfires that have seen thousands of tourists evacuated from the island.
The UK’s two biggest tour operators, Jet2 and Tui, have cancelled all flights and holidays to Rhodes for several days ahead. They are offering refunds because of the fires, which have been raging on the Greek island for six days.
But other airlines are continuing to offer seats on flights to Rhodes, and the travel firm Thomas Cook says most of its customers booked to travel ion Sunday and Monday are travelling as normal.
From London Gatwick, easyJet has five flights to Rhodes on sale on Tuesday. But for those who no longer wish to travel, the airline is allowing free changes for passengers booked up to 29 July.
Three easyJet aircraft are also flying out empty to pick up UK holidaymakers wanting to come home early.
Ryanair says its operations to and from Rhodes are normal and that usual conditions apply.
Jet2 and Tui are dispatching aircraft with no passengers from UK airports to Rhodes to pick up holidaymakers. Both have dispatched teams to help customers.
Tui customers on the island are being told: “We are aware that many of our guests are now located at evacuation centres or found temporary shelter at other hotels. We are relentlessly working on improving the situation for our guests and our teams are working closely with the local authorities.
“Customers currently in Rhodes will return on their intended flight home.”
Holidaymakers were evacuated from their hotels and left their belongings behind
(AP)
Rhodes airport is on the northwestern shore of the Greek island, close to the capital, Rhodes Town. With no imminent danger in that area, airlines are entitled to operate a “business as usual” policy, with normal terms applying.
But most are expected to provide some options to customers, with package holidaymakers benefiting from extra protection.
It comes after holidaymakers were forced to flee resorts on Saturday, with some British tourists describing “terrifying” scenes of turmoil as power cuts caused “chaos” on the island.
Thousands of tourists have been evacuated
(AP)
In previous days the wildfire was confined to the island’s mountainous centre, but aided by winds, very high temperatures and dry conditions, it spread on Saturday towards the coast on the…
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