Thomson and First Choice cancel flights to Cuba as Irma hits the US
TUI UK & Ireland has cancelled flights to Cuba over the next 10 days and services in and out of Orlando have been rescheduled as Hurricane Irma makes its way across Florida.
Irma is expected to hit coastal areas of Georgia and South Carolina on Monday morning local time and parts North Carolina from Monday afternoon, according to the Foreign Office.
Earlier, Irma caused flooding in Miami and a three-metre storm surge in the Florida Keys.
Thomson said it is continuing to ‘keep a really close eye’ on Hurricane Irma’s movements across Florida, but said guests in Cuba are a key focus.
TUI has cancelled flights to Cuba up to and including Thursday September 21 and has told affected passengers they can re-book an alternative holiday or get a refund.
Flights TOM192 from Manchester-Cayo Santa Maria, scheduled for tomorrow and next Tuesday, September 21, as well as its TOM056 Gatwick-Varadero, due out this Thursday and the following Thursday, September 21, have all been cancelled.
TOM193 from Cayo Santa Maria to Manchester on Tuesday September 12 will now fly from Varadero
All customers who were staying in Cayo Santa Maria were moved to Varadero by the Cuban authorities and will remain there until further notice.
As reported by TravelMole on Friday, Hurricane Irma forced TUI and Thomas Cook to move thousands of holidaymakers in Cuba away from coastal resorts.
TUI said: "For the time being everyone, including our team of reps supporting guests, is being kept for their own safety inside hotels and the full extent of damage to the areas affected is still to be confirmed.
"Thankfully initial reports indicate that none of our customers or staff have been injured, however, we understand what a frightening experience it will have been for them.
"We are offering support to anyone affected from our independent expert the Centre for Crisis Psychology.
"As a result of the storm, communication channels have been impacted, but we are doing all that we can to keep in regular contact and to update our customers on next steps.
"We have planned flights to operate for customers who have been impacted by the hurricane, once the airports have reopened to return them safely to the UK.
"Reps in resort will advise customers once details have been confirmed.
The FCO has updated its Cuba advice to say: "Many areas, particularly the northern coast, are without electricity and are damaged and/or flooded. Many roads are closed are due to flooding and storm damage or debris.
"The electricity was switched off in Havana as a precaution before the storm and has remained off.
"Some areas have problems with water supply. Airports will remain closed until safe. "There are no reports of any casualties or injuries to British nationals in Cuba."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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