TUI looks to restart Rhodes flights and holidays to parts of the Greek island

27 July 2023 , 14:06

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Tourists are evacuated from hotels during a wildfire on the Greek island of Rhodes on July 22, 2023. (Image: Eurokinissi/AFP via Getty Images)

Most flights to the stricken island of Rhodes are to return this Saturday. Desperate hotel bosses and workers on the Greek island said they are “praying” everyone’s summer will be saved at the weekend. Winds and temperatures have now dropped below 40c and the Greece wildfires no longer appear to be running out-of-control. Resources are now being concentrated on the largest blaze in the south east of the island.

Yesterday workers were busy putting up new wooden telegraph poles after the fire ravaged the network. Electricity had been restored to many areas but some villages were still in the dark.

A TUI UK&I Spokesperson said: “Our teams in Rhodes have been working tirelessly to support customers impacted by the wildfires in south-eastern parts of the island. We’re continuing to monitor the situation and have made some changes to our holiday programme in the coming days. We’d like to reassure customers their health and safety is our top priority. Scheduled return flights from Rhodes to the UK will continue to operate as planned."

TUI had cancelled flights and holidays due to the Rhodes fires (MEN Media)

They said on: “Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th July – our holiday programme to the North of Rhodes, where hotels and resorts are fully operational, will resume. Any customers who would prefer to amend to another available holiday can do so or they can cancel with a full refund.”

"Up to and including Friday 11th August – Whilst a number of hotels in the South of the island are open, TUI is offering customers travelling on a package holiday to a hotel in the south of the island the option to rebook or amend their holiday, or cancel with a full refund. Our teams will be contacting these customers to discuss their preferred options, including anyone who’s booked on a non-TUI flight."

New superyacht virtually invisible with mirrored glass to reflect sky and clouds

TUI had previously cancelled all outbound flights to Rhodes up to and including Friday 28 July, and has cancelled some holidays for customers travelling to impacted hotels up to and including Sunday 30 July. The travel giant was contacting affected customers and said that they would be offering full refunds and free amends.

It wasn't the only company to cancel flights. Jet2 also 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".

However, not all airlines responded in the same way. For example, Ryanair continued to operate its flights 'as normal' saying that their routes were 'unaffected by the forest fires'. The airline did however say it would accept 'temporary travel documentation issued by the Greek Police', for example for Brits who were evacuated from hotels and left passports behind.

Lucy Thornton