Holidays on Fire

[dsc]

Seems mad that people are still flying there as you have no idea where the wild fires might spread. Then again if you paid 3-4k for a holiday package, I'm sure you loose the lot if you simply not board the flight, so I kind of get why people are boarding planes.

[SueEllen]

It appears pilots have to take action themselves because our government won't.

https://metro.co.uk/2023/07/25/easyj...ories_home_top

A pilot flying to the fire-stricken Greek island of Rhodes issued a stark warning to passengers before taking off.

Greece has been battling wildfires on the mainland as well as the islands of Rhodes and Corfu for around a week now, sparked by a blistering heatwave and spread by high winds.

There were around 10,000 British citizens visiting the holiday hotspots, with a number of repatriation flights returning them to the UK on Sunday and Monday.

A number of airlines have still been flying to and from Rhodes – but one easyJet pilot issued a strong warning to passengers before taking off on Monday, the Mirror reports.

37 passengers were on board the 180-seat flight from Gatwick when the pilot issued their final warning – which led to eight passengers leaving the plane.

Gwyn Loader, who was on board to report for BBC Wales’ Welsh-language news programme Newyddion, said the pilot made the announcement over the Tannoy before take-off.

The pilot said: ‘Travelling to Rhodes for a holiday at the moment is a terrible idea.

‘As far as I’m concerned, this flight is being operated on an emergency basis.

‘Return flights are now being managed by the military. If you want to get off the flight, you are welcome to do so.

‘I don’t know in what capacity you are travelling, but if you are travelling for leisure, my sincere recommendation is it’s a bad idea.’



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-66287208

Situation stabilising in Rhodes - UK government

The UK government says the situation in the Greek island of Rhodes is "stabilising" and the "vast majority of the island is not affected by these fires".
Government spokesperson the Earl of Courtown has told the House of Lords there are "no plans for the UK government to repatriate holidaymakers from Rhodes" as the airport was operating normally.

He adds that a team of officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FDCO) and the Red Cross are currently based at Rhodes airport.
Current FCDO advice is to check with your tour operator or hotel if you're planning to travel to areas affected by wildfires.

[SueEllen]

While people in parts of Greece die of heat and the country burns down tour operators are still sending more tourists in.

https://metro.co.uk/2023/07/24/greec...ry_news_item-1

With wildfires raging in Greece and thousands of people being evacuated from homes and hotels in the country, especially in Rhodes and Corfu, many are wondering exactly which areas of Greece are affected.

The country is a popular destination for tourists thanks to its long, hot summers, but now both Jet2 and Tui have cancelled some flights to the Greek island of Rhodes which has been particularly badly hit by the wildfires.

Although the Foreign Office is not currently advising against travel to Greece, it is recommending anyone due to visit ‘any areas affected by wildfires’ to check with their travel operator or hotel first.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-66287208

What's my airline or travel company saying?

For those of you who have booked to go to Rhodes, you might be wondering whether or not you should still travel.
Here's what the airlines are currently saying.

Be aware that, in general, if your flight or holiday is still scheduled to operate but you don’t want to go any more, there’s no automatic entitlement to a refund.
Some airlines are continuing to fly tourists out to Rhodes as normal like Ryanair. It's currently offering no flexibility for customers wanting to move to another date.

Tui has cancelled flights for today and tomorrow. Passengers with a Wednesday flight can change to another holiday or cancel their booking.

EasyJet is offering some flexibility for customers to move to another date.

Jet2 has cancelled all holidays to Rhodes until 30 July and says it's in contact with customers about refunds.

Thomas Cook says customers who are booked to travel to Rhodes tomorrow and want to cancel can do so and will get a full refund. It's cancelled all holidays to Kiotari and Lardos until 31 July.

British Airways is operating as usual to Rhodes - but notes that it isn't one of the main airlines that regularly flies to the island. It says if customers there need to come home early they can change their flight for free. And, any customers flying from the UK within the next week can reschedule to a later date for no additional charge.


https://www.theguardian.com/world/li...latest-updates

In Greece, help has continued to arrive from the European Union and elsewhere, with Turkish firefighting planes joining the effort in Rhodes, where eight water-dropping planes and 10 helicopters buzzed over flames up to five meters (16 feet) tall despite low visibility, The Associated Press reports.

“The risk of fire will be extreme in several areas of Greece today,” Fire Service spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said a day after temperatures on the southern Greek mainland soared as high as 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit).