Hundreds of British holidaymakers are returning to the UK on repatriation flights following wildfires on the Greek island of Rhodes.
According to Foreign Office estimates, between 7,000 and 10,000 British tourists could be on Rhodes, a popular holiday destination.
The wildfire had been confined to the island’s mountainous centre but, aided by winds, very high temperatures, and dry conditions, it spread toward the coast on the island’s central-eastern side.
A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed on Monday that a team arrived on Rhodes to support travel operators in bringing Britons home.
But the government is not discouraging British citizens from travelling to the island, saying that the wildfires are only impacting “a limited area in Rhodes.”
‘Dedicated Flights’
Travel firm Tui said on Monday that holidaymakers have returned to the UK from Rhodes on “three dedicated flights.”It said in a statement: “We’re now working hard to get everybody home safely, with our first passengers returning to the UK on three dedicated flights overnight and plans in place to get everyone affected back as soon as possible.”
Thomas Cook said that around 50 customers were forced to evacuate due to the wildfires.
The firm said those customers are either returning home or staying in another hotel, and none are still in evacuation centres.
“We are in touch with customers who arrived on the island yesterday to areas unaffected by the fire and they are enjoying their holiday,” it said in a statement.
EasyJet said it will operate two flights totalling 421 seats on Monday and a third on Tuesday, in addition to its nine scheduled flights to the Greek island.
Jet2 has said a flight carrying 95 people from Rhodes landed at Leeds Bradford late on Sunday evening.
In addition to over 50 scheduled flights, it has planned three repatriation flights later on Monday, bound for Manchester, Leeds Bradford, and Birmingham airports respectively.
Jet2 has cancelled all flights and holidays due to depart for Rhodes up to and including Sunday, while Tui has done the same for departures before and on Friday.
Travel firms have also increased the number of their staff based on the island.
Travel Advice
The prime minister has urged holidaymakers hit by wildfires across Greece to remain in touch with tour operators.Speaking to broadcasters on a visit to the West Midlands, Rishi Sunak said: “My paramount priority is the safety of British nationals, that’s why the deputy prime minister chaired a Cobra meeting yesterday, he’s been monitoring the situation closely.
“The most important thing is people remain in touch with their tour operators, there are lots of flights going back and forth to be able to bring people home, and if people are in touch with their tour operators they will get the information that they need.”
However, people have not been discouraged from going to Rhodes, a decision Downing Street has defended.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “Our advice is focused on the safety of British nationals and enabling people to make an informed decision about the situation on the ground.
“The current situation is impacting on a limited area in Rhodes and whilst it’s right to keep it under review and it’s possible that the advice may change we do not want to act out of proportion to the situation on the ground.”
He said there are “not currently” plans to get the Royal Air Force to help people leave.
