Tui and Jet2holidays will restart holidays to wildfire-hit Rhodes at the weekend and early next week, with both operators insisting breaks to northern areas of the island can go ahead safely, while easyJet holidays also plans to operate to the north.
Tui breaks to the north will go ahead as scheduled from Saturday 29 July, although the operator is continuing to offer flexibility for all passengers due to travel to Rhodes – north or south – up to or on Sunday 30 July.
"For those travelling to the north of Rhodes from Saturday 29 July, we want to reassure that hotels and resorts are fully operational and our team of Tui reps are offering their usual service," said Tui. "There will also be an excursion programme on offer for our customers who would like to explore."
Tui said it was constantly reviewing the situation and that while "a number of hotels in the south are open", it was offering people booked to travel to a hotel in the south up to or on Friday 11 August the option to amend their trips for free or to request a full refund.
Anyone due to travel to hotels in the south between 12 August and 21 August can amend their trips for free.
Jet2holidays, meanwhile, has confirmed holidays to the north of Rhodes will go ahead as planned from Monday 31 July. "We want to assure everyone hotels, villas, and resorts [in the north] are operating as normal," said Jet2.
It said customers due to travel to Afandou, Faliraki, Ialyssos, Ixia, Kalithea, Kolymbia, Kremasti, Pastida, Rhodes Town and Theologos could look forward to their holidays, adding its normal terms and conditions would apply to these trips.
This same advice applies to people travelling to Lardos, Lindos, Kalathos and Pefkos, said Jet2, stressing its customers service and risk and safety experts had visited every one of its hotels and villas in these areas to conduct "rigorous an detailed asessments".
All Jet2 holidays departing up to and on Sunday 13 August to the resorts of Gennadi, Kiotari and Lachania remain cancelled. Guests can amend their bookings for an alternative destination or holiday, or cancel for a full refund, said Jet2.
EasyJet holidays’ latest advice states all holidays to impacted areas, including Kalathos, Lardos, Lindos and Pefkos, departing up to or on Saturday 29 July have been cancelled. Those due to travel to these areas of Rhodes between 30 July and 10 August have been offered flexibility.
Breaks to Gennadi, Kiatori and Lachania, departing up to or on 10 August, have been cancelled. Holidays to the north of the island will go ahead as planned, although those customers with "imminent departures" have been offered "additional flexibility", said easyJet holidays.
It is operating as normal to Rhodes Town, Faliraki, Ixia, Ialyssos, Kalithea, Kolymbia, Afandou, Kremasti and Theologos.
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