As the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) puts an ‘indefinite’ travel ban in place, holiday companies are now having to extend their travel dates.
The COVID-19 outbreak has taken an undeniable toll on the travel industry, forcing tour operators to delay resuming flights abroad. TUI has stated they are:
‘No longer able to offer TUI holidays travelling on or before 14 May 2020, Marella Cruises sailings travelling on or before 31 May 2020, and TUI River Cruises sailings travelling up until and including 25 November 2020.’
Holidaymakers with bookings will need to get in touch with TUI to amend their travel arrangements.
According to EU guidelines, passengers are entitled to a full refund on all unused parts of their ticket in the event their scheduled flight has been cancelled. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has also announced,
‘Under the current situation, alternative flights may not be practical to organise, for example where government advice is to avoid travel to particular destinations. A refund may therefore be the only option available for you.’
Although passengers are entitled to a refund or to amend their travel dates, they will not be entitled to compensation as the coronavirus outbreak falls under the ‘extraordinary circumstance’ category. This means the event is outside of the airline’s control, and as such, they are not obligated to provide compensation. More information can be found on the CAA website here.
On Tuesday 7th April 2020, Jet2 announced it would begin operating flights again on 17th June 2020. Those with bookings for the near future will be able to change their departure date without having to pay the standard admin fee. The tour company is asking passengers to wait to be contacted by them for alternative options.
UPDATE: TUI have since been in touch with us and provided a comprehensive page with the most up-to-date information. You can find this here.
