Updated: Tour operators continue Rhodes repatriation efforts

Tour operators have continued to repatriate customers affected by wildfires in Rhodes, with extra flights laid on.

Jet2 suspended all flights and holidays to Rhodes for a week until July 30 after initially cancelling five flights on Sunday and using the aircraft to fly people home. Four repatriation flights are operating today (Monday).

The company said: “We have contacted affected customers with regards to their refund and rebooking options and if they wish to receive a refund, we will process this quickly.”

A spokesperson added: “We understand how difficult this experience has been for many, and our entire focus is on looking after our customers.

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“We have a significantly expanded presence in Rhodes, with a huge team of experienced colleagues providing all the support we can for our customers, whether that is in affected areas or at Rhodes airport.”

Tui

Tui confirmed it had cancelled all outbound flights to Rhodes up to and including Friday, and has also cancelled all outbound flights for customers travelling to impacted hotels up to and including Sunday, July 30.

All customers due to travel on these flights will receive full refunds, while passengers due to travel to areas not affected by fires on Saturday and Sunday will be offered a free amend to another holiday or the option to cancel for a full refund.

Six additional flights repatriated German and UK customers on Monday morning, with another flight added for Danish customers.

The company said: “We are still operating empty outbound flights to bring those customers currently on holiday elsewhere in Rhodes home as planned and working to get those in affected areas as soon as possible.”

Tui Group had around 39,000 guests from European markets on the island on Sunday, 7,800 of whom were affected by the situation.

A spokesperson for Tui UK & Ireland said: “We have reps in all evacuation centres and we’re aiming to get more people home from the affected areas as soon as we can.”

EasyJet

Earlier, easyJet confirmed it would operate two repatriation flights today from Rhodes to Gatwick using Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft totalling 421 seats.

This was in addition to nine flights the airline already had operating on the route.

A spokesperson said: “We will also operate a further repatriation flight on Tuesday and continue to keep under review if additional repatriation flights are needed.”

Specialist operators also continued to monitor the situation. Sunvil said its next customers were due to arrive in Rhodes in early August, with the island acting as an entry point for the Dodecanese islands and less popular in peak season than in low and mid season.

The operator also transferred holidaymakers to alternative accommodation in Corfu after wildfires led authorities to evacuate properties in the northeast of the island and also sourced other accommodation for those due to travel to affected areas on Monday.

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