Trade’s rebooking efforts shift to customers beyond Gulf

Operators report most customers in the Middle East affected by the conflict have now been repatriated as their focus shifts to those whose holidays involve flights via the Gulf to onward destinations.

Travelpack managed about 185 bookings in affected regions in the first week of the crisis including “a significant number” transiting through hubs such as Dubai and Doha.

Director Vishal Patel said most repatriations and reroutings had been resolved and the operator was now managing a smaller number of clients departing in the coming weeks.

Travelpack covered costs beyond the three-night accommodation requirements, reaching up to 10 nights for certain clients, and established a crisis team to help agents.

More: Exclusive research reveals impact of war on Britons’ holiday plans

However, rebooking flights has proved “exceptionally difficult” because of severely limited inventory and “exorbitant” prices – leading to several cancellations.

Blue Bay Travel chief executive Alistair Rowland said: “We have people in the Maldives, Mauritius, Bali, Thailand, Australia. We’re doing a pretty good job, but it’s challenging.”

He said lots of clients were paying for additional accommodation beyond the first three nights of being stranded, adding: “Insurers are not going to be interested.”

Inside Travel repatriated the “handful” of clients it had flying via the Middle East when the conflict began but most of its flight-inclusive bookings were direct to the likes of Japan, South Korea and Vietnam.

Dertour UK joint chief executive Benjamin Boesch said 500‑plus stranded customers had been brought home via charter or connecting flights and it now had “just a few left” to repatriate.

Paul Hardwick, Fred Olsen Travel retail director, said 27 bookings were affected initially, with a further 127 impacted during March. 

“Getting customers back from the Far East and Australia in particular was challenging if booked with Middle Eastern airlines,” he said. 

Agents said the stress of juggling cancellations and rerouting was compounded by a drop in enquiries.

ArrangeMY Escape general manager Jennifer Lynch and Holiday Village’s Andrea Smith called for greater flexibility from airlines, while Wael Seliman, Cruise Monks managing director, said financial support or an industry-backed contingency scheme would help during crises.