Updated: Tui cancels all Jamaica packages until Sunday following Hurricane Melissa

Tui has cancelled all package holidays to Jamaica until Sunday (November 2), as well as a series of flights until October 31 (Friday), in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

 

The storm, the strongest to have hit the country since records began in 1851, has left hundreds of thousands without electricity, caused flooding and landslides and forced the closure of Norman Manley International airport in Kingston and Sangster International airport in Montego Bay.

 

Tui, which said it is “working hard” to organise flights home for customers in the destination, has decided to cancel package holidays and outbound flights “due to the government declaring Jamaica a disaster zone and the closure of Sangster International airport in Montego Bay”.

 

A spokesperson said: “We’re working hard to assess the full impact of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and the extent of damage to local infrastructure including resorts, roads and airports.

 

“We want to reassure our customers that their safety and wellbeing remains our absolute top priority.

 

“We understand this is an unsettling time and ask that customers currently in Jamaica continue to follow the advice of local authorities and their resort teams.”

 

The tour operator said it was “sending aircraft to the region" on Wednesday so it can operate flights from Jamaica as soon as possible.

 

It added it would contact impacted customers directly as soon as it has more details.

 

Cancelled package holidays include Gatwick to Montego Bay today (Thursday), Gatwick to Montego Bay on Friday, Birmingham to Montego Bay on Saturday and Manchester to Montego Bay on Sunday.

 

Virgin Atlantic cancelled three flights between London and Montego Bay this week including one planned for today (Thursday).

 

The airline said: “We’re very sorry for the impact and inconvenience caused to our customers. We’ll continue to monitor Hurricane Melissa closely, as our customers’ safety remains our top priority.”

 

About 25,000 tourists - 8,000 of them British - were left on the island after both international airports in Kingston and Montego Bay were closed on Sunday.

 

Jamaica’s transport minister Daryl Vaz indicated that Kingston’s airport could be reopened for emergency relief flights as soon as today (Thursday).

 

He also indicated that damage to Sangster International airport in Montego Bay was not as extensive as was has appeared on videos that have been shared widely. 

 

The videos show a section of the concourse which houses gates 1-5 and that, "while alarming, give only a snapshot of one section of a very large airport". 

 

A specialist Foreign Office rapid deployment team has travelled to Miami to provide consular assistance to affected British nationals.

 

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said: “These teams include specially trained consular staff members equipped to handle emergency situations, provide immediate logistical support, and liaise with local authorities to ensure British nationals receive the necessary assistance. 

 

“British nationals in Jamaica should continue to register their presence to receive updates from the FCDO.”  

 

Meanwhile, the government is making £2.5 million in emergency humanitarian funding available to support the Caribbean region’s recovery from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

 

The funding includes the delivery of emergency supplies such as shelter kits, water filters, and blankets. 

 

The emergency relief supplies have already been prepositioned in Antigua to ensure they can be rapidly deployed to where they are needed most, according to the FCDO. 

 

UK humanitarian and technical experts are also being deployed to the region to assist with the coordination and delivery of aid.  

 

“The UK is working with tour operators, the Jamaican authorities and its international partners, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and UN agencies, to ensure humanitarian assistance is delivered to affected areas and meets the immediate needs of the most vulnerable,” the FCDO added.

 

The Ministry of Defence has also deployed a team to the Turks and Caicos Islands to support disaster management preparations, response and recovery.  

 

Melissa was 105 miles from the central Bahamas last night, moving north east with wind at 100 mph. A dangerous storm surge is expected there before it moves further north towards Bermuda.

 

A tropical storm warning is in place for the Turks and Caicos Islands and the speed of the slow-moving hurricane is expected to increase in the coming days.

 

In updated travel advice for Cuba, the FCDO said: “The full impact of the hurricane is not yet clear, but damage is expected to be significant.”

 

The advisory said: “Hurricane Melissa made landfall in the eastern part of Cuba in the early hours of 29 October. The hurricane has now passed through the eastern province and has left Cuba. 

 

“The storm brought exceptional levels of wind and rainfall, resulting in flash floods, landslides and storm surges. 

 

“Infrastructure and services are likely to be severely impacted for some time. 

 

“The national power grid in Cuba is already under severe pressure and the impact of hurricane Melissa could lead to further significant power outages.”

 

Global air charter specialist Chapman Freeborn’s aviation emergency services team has confirmed its readiness to support emergency evacuations, first responder transport and humanitarian aid deliveries to regions affected by Hurricane Melissa. 

 

The company said it was “on standby to provide urgent air charter solutions, including evacuations of civilians and personnel, deployment of first responders, and post-storm operations delivering relief supplies and equipment”.

 

Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said: “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by the devastation of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and Cuba. 

 

“We hope that emergency services are able to respond swiftly and that conditions begin to improve soon, though we understand recovery efforts may take some time. 

 

“For travellers who have booked holidays to other Caribbean destinations, we recommend monitoring the trajectory of the hurricane and to continue following the latest FCDO travel guidance in case you are impacted.

 

“As Jamaica and Cuba recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, tourism will play a vital role in supporting local communities and rebuilding the economy. 

 

“Travellers returning to the islands once it is safe to do so will help sustain jobs, small businesses, and the wider recovery efforts that are essential to restoring livelihoods and stability.”