Tui Travel and Thomas Cook have cancelled flights to Luxor in the wake of the updated Foreigh Office guidance, but are continuing normal operations to Sharm El Sheikh and other Red Sea resorts.
Tui cancelled outbound flights to Luxor but will operate return flights. The operator said customers at any resorts concerned about the situation should contact the resort representative.
Tui said: “People should also take considerable reassurance from the fact that the resort of Sharm el Sheikh operates like a country in itself. It is run separately from the rest of Egypt, benefits from having just one secure road into the resort, and enjoys an exceptionally low crime rate.
“There is also no unemployment in Sharm el Sheikh, since those living in the resort are only there because they are employed in tourism.”
Thomas Cook has cancelled all flights to Luxor due to leave on Wednesday (February 2) from Birmingham, Gatwick and Manchester. “Customers due to travel on these flights are being contacted and are able to amend their holiday to another destination or receive a full refund,” the operator said.
The return flights on February 2 from Luxor to the UK will operate as planned. Excursions from Red Sea resorts to Cairo up to and including Wednesday have been cancelled “as a precautionary measure”.
A statement from specialist operator Red Sea Holidays said: “Whilst the Red Sea Holidays staff in Luxor have reported no disruption to tourists or any activity around the key tourist sites of Luxor the operator’s main priority is their customers so those who were due to fly out are now being offered a full refund, alternative travel dates or the option to switch to the Red Sea where the resorts are unaffected by the recent action.”
Red Sea said the operator has spent the weekend calling those who have travel plans in the next week explaining the situation.
Customers are being advised that they can transfer to any alternative holiday free of charge. If the total new holiday cost is not increased by more than £100 (per booking) then Red Sea Holidays will also honour the price absorbing the difference, in circumstances where the difference is more than £100 then the client will need to pay the extra.
Those already in Luxor at the end of their holiday will be flying back today as planned. Those who are in Luxor but not due to fly out until later dates are all being contacted by the Red Sea Holidays representatives and being offered the option to fly back to the UK sooner if they wish.
Red Sea added as of today, the resorts of Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada remain unaffected by unrest.
Easyjet, which flies to Luxor, Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada, said passengers already booked on flights to Luxor could change the date of travel for free or take a credit voucher to use on future flights. It is operating flights as normal to the two Red Sea resort airports.
BMI cancelled a Sunday service between Heathrow and Cairo, having had a flight turned back mid-air Saturday.
British Airways has changed the timetable of flights to Cairo to take account of a curfew in the city. Passengers should check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport, BA said. BA flights to Sharm El Sheikh are unaffected.
About 30,000 British tourists are believed to be on holiday in Egypt.