Empty planes leave Leeds Bradford Airport as Jet2 begin coronavirus repatriation mission

Jet2 have sent empty aircraft to resorts across Europe to rescue passengers stranded by flight cancellations.
Jet2 have launched a repatriation packageJet2 have launched a repatriation package
Jet2 have launched a repatriation package

Outgoing flights to destinations across Europe have been suspended in light of the coronavirus outbreak and countries such as Spain and Italy - where Jet2 has a large market share - have closed their borders.

But rescue flights will be sent to repatriate travellers who have been stranded abroad. They will depart at their scheduled flight times but will fly empty until the return journey.

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Seats on the aircraft will be available to customers who had not originally flown to Europe with Jet2 but who have not been offered flights by other airlines.

Four jets left Leeds Bradford Airport for Antalya in Turkey on Tuesday afternoon.

Jet2 suspended its services to Dubrovnik, Crete, Amsterdam, Faro and Rhodes today. They have already cancelled flights from Leeds Bradford to Italy, Spain and the Canary Islands.

Ryanair has cancelled Leeds Bradford to Bratislava flights following Slovakia's lockdown.

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Jet2's CEO Steve Heapy said: “As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, governments and local authorities in many of our destinations are introducing exceptional measures which we know will have a significant impact on our customers’ holidays. Whilst of course the health and safety of our customers is our number one priority, we are also acutely aware of our responsibility to look after our customers and provide them with the very best experience.

“In line with guidance from the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), as well from governments and local authorities, we have taken the decision to suspend flights to many destinations. When customers cannot visit bars, restaurants, shops and ski resorts, or take part in activities such as water sports, we know this is the right thing to do.

“We also know that flying customers back to the UK is the right thing to do. With this responsibility in mind, we are continuing to operate our scheduled programme, with aircraft flying empty from the UK so that we can fill them and bring customers home. In addition to that programme of scheduled flights, we are putting on extra aircraft to bring customers home, some of who may not have been offered flights home by their airline.

“This is an enormously fast-moving and complex situation, however customers and independent travel agents can be rest assured that our teams are doing the right thing for them. We are contacting our customers who are currently in destination, and who are due to travel, to advise them of their options. We urge customers not to call us please, as we are experiencing high call volumes. We will be in touch with our customers based on their planned departure date.

“We recognise that this is an extremely challenging time, and we would like thank all of our customers and independent travel agency partners for their understanding and patience.”