HOLIDAY JETS IN MID-AIR U-TURN Travellers’ plans in chaos as airlines scrap all flights to Spain
Travellers had their plans thrown into chaos yesterday as airlines scrapped flights to Spain as the coronavirus outbreak escalated.
Operators also grounded jets due to take off for Italy and Iceland as the number of patients diagnosed with the i llness increased across the continent.
Jet2 announced it had cancelled all its flights scheduled for mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands after the Spanish government put the nation in lockdown in an effort to combat Covid-19.
The firm made the decision when authorities there announced they would close bars, restaurants, shops and water activities.
Five Jet2 flights turned around mid-air yesterday morning and headed back to the UK – including Glasgow Airport passengers who were destined for Alicante with travel operator TUI.
They arrived back in Scotland at 11am after taking off shortly after 7am. Their pilot was ordered to do a U-turn while flying over France.
Fifteen f l ights scheduled to leave Scotland were grounded – eight from Glasgow and seven from Edinburgh.
James Lafferty, 67, and wife Carol, 64, of Houston, Renfrewshire, arrived at Glasgow Airport to discover their afternoon flight to Fuerteventura had been cancelled.
The couple had sold their home and were expected to start a new life yesterday in the Canary Islands.
Retired subway worker John said: “We don’t know when we’ll get a f light to Spain or even when we’ll be allowed into the country.
“It was our dream move to Fuerteventura and we’d planned to spend the rest of our lives there.
“We’ll probably have to stay with our daughter until we can get things sorted.”
Dia ne a nd John McMillan, both 60, had travelled from Arran on Friday and had hoped to be on the same flight.
NHS worker Diane said: “We know it’s not the airline’s fault but we’re disappointed.
“We’ve been offered a refund or another holiday.”
An easyJet f light from Glasgow to Venice was also cancelled yesterday, as was an Icelandair f light to the capital Reykjavik.
Jet2 flights to Spain from Birmingham, East Midlands, Leeds and Manchester were also forced to return to the UK while mid-air.
A spokeswoman said: “The health and safety of our customers is our top priority.”
TUI said in a statement: “We will contact all customers due to travel to Alicante between March 14 and 16 to offer alternative holiday options or offer a full refund.
“Any customers due to travel between March 17 and 23 will be contacted about their holiday on Monday.”
A Glasgow Airport spokesman added: “A number of airlines have cancelled f lights in response to the latest travel advice regarding coronavirus.
“We would advise all travellers to contact your airline before travelling to the airport.”
An easyJet spokeswoman said: ” We’ve had to cancel a number of flights because of travel restrictions imposed by the Italian authorities on March 9.”
The moves came as the Spanish government prepared to declare a 15- day national lockdown on Monday to battle coronavirus. Emergency laws would mean people would be allowed out only to buy food or go to work. The total number of confirmed infections in Spain stands at 6315, while its death toll has reached 193.
The figures include nearly 1000 new patients in the capital Madrid.
The country is the worst hit area in Europe after Italy, which has suffered 1266 deaths and 17,660 infections.
France yesterday announced it would order most shops, restaurants and entertainment venues to close from midnight.
Prime minister Edouard Philippe said public transport would continue to operate but asked the public to limit their use.
The measure came af ter French authorities announced 91 coronavirusrelated deaths – up from 79 on Friday.
The total number of cases in France was 4500 on Saturday, up an increase of 839 in just 24 hours.
Meanwhile, a number of European countries enforced border closures in an effort to control the disease.
Denmark closed entry to foreign visitors while the Czech Republic and Slovakia
banned foreigners from entering unless they had residence permits.
Austria shut three land border crossings with Italy to all foreigners, except those with a medical certificate issued within four days.
Hungary closed borders with Austria and Slovenia, while Poland will close borders to foreign visitors today.
Russia and Ukraine also announced closures.
The restrictions came as US President Donald Trump yesterday announced his coronavirus travel ban will be extended to the UK and Ireland from tomorrow.
He indicated the move was in response to an increase in virus activity in the countries.
The UK and Ireland were originally excluded when Trump announced a ban on travel from the Schengen travel area in continental Europe.
But speaking in the
White House, he said that position was being changed. He added:
“We’re looking at it very seriously, yes, because they’ve had a little bit of activity unfortunately, so we’re going to be looking at that.
“We actually already have looked at it and that is going to be announced.” Vice-president Mike Pence clarified the decision, saying it would come into force at midnight on Monday in the eastern US. He said: “In our taskforce meeting today, the president has made a decision to suspend all travel to the UK and Ireland, effective midnight Monday, eastern standard time.” Pence said there had been a “unanimous recommendation” f rom health experts to extend the travel ban. He added: “Americans in the UK or Ireland can come home, legal residents can come home.
“They will be funnelled through specific airports and processed.”
The World Health Organisation said on Friday that Europe was the “epicentre” of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, airlines fear going out of business as coronavirus spreads across the world and governments stop people from travelling.
BA chief executive Alex Cruz warned staff “not to underestimate” the impact the pandemic could have on the firm in a memo titled The Survival of British Airways.
Ryanair told employees they may be forced to take unpaid leave from Monday due to cancelled f lights and schedule changes.
The British Airline Pilots’ Association has urged the Government to provide the industry with assistance.