Tui and Jet2holidays have cancelled holidays to the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands following the FCO’s updated advice against non-essential travel.
Tui said it had cancelled holidays to the islands up to and including Friday, July 31. Jet2holidays said it would not operate outbound flights on Tuesday and would provide a further update on the “extremely fast-moving situation”.
The FCO updated its advice to include the islands on Monday, having previously advised against non-essential travel only to the Spanish mainland.
Tui cancelled flights and holidays to the mainland on Saturday until August 9, with Jet2holidays following suit until August 16 on Monday. However, both operators had maintained services to the Balearics and Canaries based on the original updated FCO advice.
A Tui spokesperson said: “Due to the updated travel advice change from the UK Foreign Office against all but essential travel to all areas of Spain, Tui UK have taken the decision to cancel all holidays to the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands from Tuesday 28th July up to and including until Friday 31st July. Holidays to the mainland of Spain are cancelled between Sunday 26th July up to and including Sunday 9th August 2020.
“All customers due to travel to Spanish destinations between Sunday 26th July and Sunday 9th August will be able to cancel or amend their holiday and will be able to receive a full refund or the option to rebook their holiday with a booking incentive.
“Customers with holidays to Balearic Islands and Canary Islands from 1st August and mainland Spain from 10th August will be updated on Friday 31st July. All customers currently on holiday can continue to enjoy their holiday and will return on their intended flight home.”
The spokesperson added: “The health and safety of our customers and colleagues is always our highest The health and safety of our customers and colleagues is always our highest priority and welcome travel advice that protects those that holiday with us.
“However, the UK government must work closely with the travel industry as this level of uncertainty and confusion is damaging for business and disappointing for those looking forward to a well-deserved break.”
A Jet2 spokeperson said: “Following the latest government advice regarding travel to the Balearic and Canary Islands from the UK, we ask that independent travel agents please advise customers who are due to travel to these destinations not to go to the airport tomorrow (Tuesday 28th July) as we are not operating outbound flights. This advice also applies to customers travelling to any of our destinations in mainland Spain.
“We will be operating our scheduled programme of flights back to the UK from these destinations tomorrow.
“This is an extremely fast-moving situation, and we will provide a further update.”