Rhodes fires cause chaos for British tourists: flights cancelled and refunds denied

British Tourists Face Disruptions and Refunds as Rhodes Fires Continue

The ongoing wildfires in Rhodes have caused major disruptions for British tourists, leading to flight cancellations and refunds from airlines like Jet2 and TUI. Consumer charity Which? has criticized airlines for not refunding tourists who choose not to travel to the fire-ravaged island. Which? Travel editor Rory Boland called on more airlines to be flexible and understand that tourists may not want to travel to Rhodes amidst the ongoing emergency operations. While there is no official Foreign Office advice against travel to Rhodes, Boland stated that it would be unethical for holiday companies to not refund or rebook customers who make the sensible decision not to travel.

Travel Insurance May Not Cover Disruptions Caused by Wildfires

Tourists whose holidays are disrupted by the wildfires or those who choose not to travel are unlikely to be covered by their travel insurance. Louise Clark, policy advisor at the Association of British Insurers, explained that travel insurance primarily covers emergency medical treatment and repatriation costs, rather than cancellations due to natural disasters. However, some insurers offer add-ons that protect against such events.

Jet2 and TUI Cancel Flights as Wildfires Continue to Sweep Rhodes

As wildfires continue to sweep across Rhodes, two major airlines, Jet2 and TUI, have cancelled all flights to the island. Thousands of people, both residents and tourists, have been evacuated from at least six villages. The British Embassy in Athens has urged Brits to leave the area. TUI has cancelled all flights and booked holidays to Rhodes for the next several days, while Jet2 has suspended five flights scheduled to depart today. Other airlines, such as Ryanair and easyJet, are still offering flights to Rhodes despite the ongoing inferno. The Greek government has been working to manage the situation and provide support to affected tourists. British tourists who are currently in Rhodes will be brought back to the UK on their intended flights. It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days and whether further cancellations or evacuations will be necessary.