EasyJet, Ryanair, TUI and Jet2 issue updates for Brits over Rhodes flights

25 July 2023 , 11:50

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Wildfires continue to rage on Rhodes (Image: AP)

Two of the UK's biggest budget airlines are continuing to fly customers out to Rhodes where the ferocious wildfire is still burning.

For the past four days the usually idyllic and beautiful island of Rhodes has turned into one of smoke clouds and chaos as wildfires coarse across the land.

Despite the best efforts of fire-fighting pilots, the flames continue to burn in parts of Rhodes as strong winds push them towards new fuel.

While the possibility of more dangerous and destructive outbreaks remains, airlines are split about whether to continue ferrying passengers out to an island that relies so heavily on tourists.

Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways have all decided to keep their flights to the Greek island going this week, while Jet2 and TUI have extended outwards groundings.

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It's worth noting that airlines including easyJet and Jet2 have also been running repatriation flights to help evacuate Brits on the island.

British Airways

The effort to fight flames in Rhodes continues (AP)

BA has just four flights to Rhodes a week which are continuing, but customers with plane bookings and package holidays booked for the coming days are able to change to a later date for free, a spokesperson told The Mirror.

Jet2

Jet2 cancelled all flights and holidays due to depart to Rhodes up to and including Sunday 30 July, "to give customers assurance and to avoid putting further pressure on the island’s infrastructure".

All customers who are affected have been contacted about refunds and rebooking options, the company has said.

The airline will still fly those aircraft to Rhodes but with no customers onboard, so that customers who are on the island can be brought back on their scheduled flights, "as well as any additional Jet2 customers who wish to return to the UK."

It has also announced extra repatriation flights for Brits who are currently in Rhodes.

TUI

Some airlines are still flying out holidaymakers to the island (PA)

TUI has cancelled all outbound flights to Rhodes up to and including Friday 28 July, and has cancelled holidays for customers travelling to impacted hotels up to and including Sunday 30 July.

If your hotel is one of those too badly impacted by the fire for you to travel, the holiday firm has said you will be contacted directly.

"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," a TUI spokesperson said.

EasyJet

A fire fighting aircraft drops water over a wildfire close to village of Vati in Rhodes (AFP via Getty Images)

On the other hand, easyJet has cancelled some holidays on the island, but not flights.

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The budget airline has cancelled package holidays to impacted resorts in Rhodes departing up to and including 29 July, with those impact having already been contacted, the business said.

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.

Customers due to travel to the impacted resorts in Rhodes up to 10 August are being contacted "to discuss their options", a spokesperson for the firm said.

“We continue to advise customers travelling to and from Rhodes to check the status of their flights on Flight Tracker," they added.

Ryanair

Ryanair is running all flights to and from Rhodes and Corfu - another island where the threat of fires remains.

"Ryanair flights to/from Rhodes and Corfu are currently operating as normal and unaffected by the forest fires," the company has said in a statement.

"Passengers departing from Rhodes should be advised that we will accept temporary travel documentation issued by the Greek Police.

"The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also set up a helpdesk at Rhodes airport to assist visitors who have lost their travel documents. Please check your Ryanair app where you will be notified of any changes to your Ryanair flight."

As the UK Foreign Office has not issued a travel ban for Rhodes, if an airline is still flying your service or a travel firm has not cancelled your package holiday, then you may struggle to get your money back if you opt not to go.

A spokesperson for the Travel Association, formerly known as ABTA, said: “ABTA is continuing to work with members to support customers affected by the wildfires in Rhodes.

"We understand that some of the resorts have had their evacuation order removed by the Greek authorities and people have been advised that they can return to the resorts of Lindos and Pefkos.

"Travel companies will be liaising with their accommodation providers to ensure that they are ready to receive customers and customers will be notified accordingly. More information is available at www.abta.com/rhodeswildfires.”

Milo Boyd