Airlines Cancel Flights to Wildfire-hit Rhodes, Repatriate Tourists

Members of the UK government’s Rapid Deployment Team at Rhodes Airport. Photo source: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

A number of flights to Rhodes from the UK have been cancelled as wildfires continue to rage on the island for the seventh day.

Following a large evacuation operation on the island on Saturday, tour operators TUI and Jet2 have have announced cancellations and instead have been sending repatriation flights to the island to fly people back to the UK. The two companies handle the largest volume of passengers on Rhodes.

TUI

Photo source: TUI Group (© Gregorschläger)

TUI UK confirmed that all outbound flights to Rhodes up to and including Tuesday, July 25, have been cancelled, and passengers will receive full refunds. Passengers due to fly to Rhodes on Wednesday, July 26, can amend their holiday to another date with TUI or cancel for free. TUI passengers currently on Rhodes can return home on their intended flights.

Early on Monday morning, six additional TUI planes flew guests, TUI customers as well as others, from Germany and the UK back home. On Sunday, the group had around 39,000 guests on the island, 7,800 of whom were affected by the situation.

TUI on Monday released an UPDATE stating that:
– all bookings of TUI holidays to the south-eastern part of the island will be cancelled up to and including Sunday, 30 July
– all bookings of TUI holidays to the rest of Rhodes will be cancelled up to and including Friday, 28 July 2023.

See TUI’s UPDATE here.

Jet2

Jet2 also cancelled all flights and holidays that are due to depart to Rhodes up to and including Sunday, July 30. The company said it would also contact affected customers with regards to their refund or rebooking options.

“We will fly those aircraft to Rhodes with no customers onboard, so that we can continue to bring customers back to the UK on their scheduled flights,” the tour operator said in an announcement.

Late Sunday evening, Jet2’s first repatriation flight landed at Leeds Bradford. The company announced further flights on Monday to Manchester, Leeds Bradford Airport and Birmingham.

Easyjet

EasyJet advised its flight-only passengers due to travel to and from Rhodes before July 29 to check for any updates, but announced that its scheduled flights would still operate.

However, if easyJet passengers would like to change their plans, they are able to transfer their flight to another date or request a flight voucher for the value of their unused flights, by calling easyJet Customer Services.

EasyJet will also run two special repatriation flights today from Rhodes to Gatwick in addition to its scheduled flights. It will also operate a further repatriation flight on Tuesday.

Ryanair

Ryanair flights to/from Rhodes are also currently operating as normal and unaffected by the wildfires.

The airline announced that passengers departing from Rhodes are advised that the airline will accept temporary travel documentation issued by the Greek Police, in case they have lost their travel documents due to the ongoing situation on Rhodes.

British Airways

British Airways said its flight schedule to and from Rhodes would remain as scheduled, but it offered flexibility with passengers with existing bookings to the island.

According to Greek media reports, British Airways will be flying larger aircraft to Rhodes to assist the repatriation of British citizens to the UK.

According to the recent travel advice warning issued by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), British nationals affected by wildfires in Greece should follow the guidance from the Greek emergency services. Those planning to travel to any areas affected by wildfires should check with their air carrier, travel operator, or hotel prior to departure.

It is reminded that the Greek government has opened a Help Desk at Rhodes International Airport. In cooperation with embassies in Greece, the Help Desk facilitates and coordinates the timely departure of visitors who have lost their travel documents.