Important information from Sharm-el-Sheikh
You may want to pass this on if you know anyone affected…
You may have heard that all airplanes going to and from Sharm-el-Sheik have been grounded after it was revealed that a suspected bomb brought down Russian airliner killing all 224 on board.
A total of 20,000 Brits are currently stranded in Egypt at the moment.
FCO guidance now warns against “all but essential” travel by air to the resort – though overall, Mr Hammond added, the risk to tourists on the ground has not changed.
What should you do if you’re planning a holiday to Sharm in the near future?
First and foremost, contact your airline or tour operator to check the latest updates and any alternative arrangements.
Here is what particular airlines are saying:
Thomas Cook
Customers due to travel to Sharm el Sheikh up to and including Thursday 12 November the will be able to cancel or re-book their holiday free of charge, with a £25 discount per person on their new holiday. Booking conditions are as normal for travel after that date, until we have any further advice from the FCO.
Any customers wishing to amend or cancel their booking should visit their local Thomas Cook or The Co-operative Travel store or call our dedicated customer hotline: 01733 224 536, which will be open from 8am tomorrow, Thursday 5 November.
Thomson Holidays
All customers booked to travel to Sharm el Sheikh in this period will be provided with a full refund. As a priority, we’re contacting customers due to travel tomorrow and ask those traveling later in the week to please bear with us as we manage this evolving situation.
Our experienced overseas resort team will be updating all our customers currently on holiday in Sharm el Sheikh of the change in FCO travel advice and we’ll be making arrangements to return these customers to the UK.
A dedicated support line has also been set up for customers on 0800 009 3833.
EasyJet
The airline has canceled its flights to and from Sharm El Sheikh today. It said it would keep future flights “under review, pending further advice from the government”.
Passengers booked to travel to Sharm in the next two weeks are able to request a refund or a change to the dates or destination of their flights free of charge, the company said.
British Airways
The airline has said flights to and from Sharm would probably be delayed by 24 hours. Customers are advised to contact the airline at BritishAirways.com.
If you are in Egypt now
The FCO has said that extra consular staff have been deployed to Sharm and will be on-hand at the airport to provide assistance to anyone caught up in the delays.
Armed security forces are in place at airports both in Sharm and Hurghada, as well as checkpoints around the perimeter of the towns, and routine security checks are carried out around hotels, resorts and popular tourist areas.
