TRAVEL companies have been forced to cancel flights to popular holiday hotspots in Greece because of wildfires.
Thousands of holidaymakers have had to be brought back to the UK on repatriation flights, with others worried about their upcoming trips.
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Flights to Rhodes and Corfu have been affected, with airlines making different decisions on how to deal with the problem.
While the UK government has not actively warned people against travelling to the area, they have urged caution from holidaymakers.
They said: “If you are due to travel to an area that might be affected by wildfires, contact your travel operator or accommodation provider before you travel to check that it is not currently impacted.
“Make sure you have appropriate insurance.”
TUI
TUI has cancelled some flights and hotels to Rhodes up to the end of this week, however Corfu remains less affected.
They said: “We have cancelled all outbound flights to Rhodes up to and including Friday 28th July, and have also cancelled holidays for customers travelling to impacted hotels up to and including Sunday 30th July.
“We’ll be in touch with customers directly if their hotels in the South of the island have been impacted.
“All flight only customers due to travel on these flights will receive full refunds. Package holiday customers will have the option to amend their booking or cancel with a full refund.
“Passengers due to travel up to and including 30th July for all areas of Rhodes will be offered a fee free amend to another holiday or the option to cancel for a full refund.
“We are still operating flights from Rhodes back to UK & Ireland as scheduled.”
On travel to Corfu, TUI added: “We’d like to reassure customers due to travel to Corfu that our hotels and resorts are currently operating normally following the containment of a wildfire in a small area in the North East.”
Jet2
The airline said: “Due to the wildfires affecting Rhodes and the impact across the island, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all flights going from the UK to Rhodes up to and including 30 July.
“As a result of this, we will be contacting affected customers with regards to their refund and rebooking options.
“We currently plan to operate flights from Rhodes to the UK as normal.”
Ryanair
Unlike TUI and Jet2 Ryanair are still operating flights to and from Rhodes, as well as Corfu.
However, passengers with flights to Rhodes up to July 27 can change them for free online.
The airline also recommended passengers checked the status of their flights.
A statement from Ryanair reads: “Ryanair flights to/from Rhodes and Corfu are currently operating as normal and unaffected by the forest fires.
“Passengers departing from Rhodes should be advised that we will accept temporary travel documentation issued by the Greek Police.
“Please check your Ryanair app where you will be notified of any changes to your Ryanair flight.
“Please be advised that all passengers travelling from the 25th to 27th of July inclusive to and from Rhodes can now change their flight free of charge online via the website/app.”
EasyJet
Flight-only customers who are due to travel before July 29 have been told that services are still operating, but they have also been urged to keep an eye on the status of their journeys.
Passengers are also eligible to transfer for free to another date, or they can request flight vouchers.
The airline said: “We are currently operating as normal to Rhodes however we continue to closely monitor the situation.
“We advise customers travelling to and from Rhodes to check the status of their flights on Flight Tracker.
“Our tour operator, easyJet holidays is currently working to comply with requests of the local authorities and is in contact with customers in resort to support them.
“We are proactively contacting easyJet holidays customers due to travel up to and including Saturday 29 July to confirm their options.
“Any easyJet flight-only customers who are booked to travel to or from Rhodes until 29 July can transfer for free to another date or can request a flight voucher for the value of their unused flights, by calling easyJet Customer Services.
“The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority.”
Wildfires have also spread to Agioi Theodoroi and parts of Evia.
Here’s how to get refunds if your flight is grounded.
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