Rescue flights bring Brits back from Tunisia

Tour operators and airlines are laying on extra flights this weekend to bring British holidaymakers back from Tunisia.

They are repatriating clients as quickly as possible after the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advised against all but essential travel to Tunisia over fears that a further terrorist attack is ‘highly likely’.

ABTA estimates there are around 3,000 British holidaymakers still in Tunisia, where 38 people were shot dead on June 26, including 30 British Thomson and First Choice customers.

The FCO said since the beach attack in Sousse, it has been working closely with the Tunisian authorities to investigate the attack and the wider threat from terrorist groups in Tunisia.

"Although we have had good co-operation from the Tunisian government, including putting in place additional security measures, the intelligence and threat picture has developed considerably, reinforcing our view that a further terrorist attack is highly likely," it said.

"On balance, we do not believe the mitigation measures in place provide adequate protection for British tourists in Tunisia at the present time and we have therefore changed our travel advice accordingly."

Thomas Cook, Thomson and First Choice have cancelled all outbound flights to Tunisia for the summer season up to and including October 31.

Thomas Cook is now bringing back all of its Tunisia customers – around 2,000 – as soon as it can using third party airlines and on 10 scheduled flights over the weekend.

It operated an additional flight earlier today (Friday) and has charted a second plane to bring back customers.

Flight TCX TCX998 departed Enfida at 8.15 local Tunisian time and was due to arrive at Manchester airport at 11.30 BST, with onwards transport provided to customers not from the region.

Thomas Cook has also charted an additional aircraft from Nouvelle Air. Flight BJ8120, departing from Enfida at 11.30, will arrive in Manchester at 14.25 and continue on to Stansted airport, where it will arrive at 16.05.

"Thomas Cook is strongly advising its guests in the country to return on these flights. We are also sending our Specialist Assistance Teams to Tunisia to offer customers additional support in resort," it said.

"We are committed to doing everything we can to support our guests in Tunisia at this time and will work to bring them back to the UK safely and as soon as possible."

It has set up a dedicated Thomas Cook helpline – 01733 224 536 – for customers with friends or family currently in resort, and those wishing to cancel.

Travel agents can call 0800 916 0699.

"We are expecting increased call volumes over the next few days following the change to the travel advice. We would kindly request that you allow us to give priority to those customers travelling in the next 14 days," said a spokesman.

Meanwhile, Thomson and First Choice said they have no customers currently in Tunisia but ‘as a precautionary measure’ have decided to repatriate all British staff currently working in Tunisia within the next 24 hours.

Customers due to travel to Tunisia up to and including October 31 will be given the opportunity to amend their holiday free of charge to any of our destinations currently on sale, or receive a full refund.

Those wishing to change or cancel are being advised to visit their travel agent or call the customer service centre on 0800 009 3847 or 0203 636 1998 between 9am-9pm on Monday-Friday, 9am-8pm Saturday and 10am – 8pm Sunday.

EasyJet will operate three flights on 11 July, 14 July and 18 July but will not be accepting new bookings for the outbound sectors.

It had already taken the decision to cease flying to Tunisia after a significant drop in demand.

"EasyJet is allowing passengers who are booked to travel to Monastir a free flight transfer on any date and on any alternative route, or a full refund.  Passengers have been contacted by easyJet’s customer services team to make their arrangements. We’d like to apologise for any inconvenience caused," it said.

Monarch is operating four ‘rescue’ flights from Enfidha this weekend into Gatwick and Manchester.

All other flights for the rest of the summer have been cancelled and customers already booked can claim a refund or credit, or change their destination. Customer services are on 0333 003 0700.