Advertisement

Jet2 suspends flights in U-turn on mainland Spain holidays

Danger zone? Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, where hundreds of new cases of coronavirus have been identified: Simon Calder
Danger zone? Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, where hundreds of new cases of coronavirus have been identified: Simon Calder

Jet2 has cancelled all its flights and package holidays to mainland Spain until mid-August.

The three-week cancellation complies with the latest Foreign Office travel advice, which warns against non-essential travel to the Spanish mainland.

The government made the decision after spikes in coronavirus in several parts of northeast Spain.

After the FCO warning took effect at the weekend, Jet2 made the remarkable decision to continue to operate package holidays against official advice – the first time any large mainstream operator has done so.

But Britain’s second-biggest holiday company has now reversed that plan.

A spokesperson said: “Following the latest government advice regarding travel to mainland Spain from the UK, we have taken the decision to suspend our flights and holidays programme to Costa de Almeria, Alicante, Malaga and Murcia from 28 July up to and including 16 August.

“We will also contact customers who are currently in mainland Spain to advise them of their options regarding flying back to the UK, so we urge customers not to contact us.

“For customers who are due to travel to mainland Spain from 17 August onwards, we will provide an additional update once we receive further information from the government.

“We urge the government to provide the industry with clarity, so that we can keep our all-important customers up-to-date and informed.

“We are continuing to operate flights and holidays to our destinations in the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands as scheduled.

“Because the FCO travel advice to these destinations remains unchanged, our usual terms and conditions apply. As always, we advise customers to purchase appropriate travel insurance before travelling.

“This is a fast-moving situation, which we are continuing to monitor very closely.”

All arrivals to the UK from Spain – islands as well as mainland – are now obliged to quarantine for two weeks.

Unlike Jet2, Tui is offering refunds for all holidaymakers booked to travel to Spain up to and including 9 August.

Read more

What are the UK lockdown rules now?

How to ease yourself back into socialising once lockdown lifts

The new lost generation

Which countries are seeing a second wave of coronavirus?

How to wear a face mask safely