EasyJet, BA and TUI cancel flights to Greece as UK flight ban extended

The earliest the Greek government will allow direct flights from the UK is July 15
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Airlines easyJet, Ryanair, TUI and British Airways have been forced to cancel flights to Greece in response to the country's extended travel ban for Brits.

After initially saying Brits would ‘be welcome’ in Greece from July 1, yesterday news broke that the Greek government has pushed this date back to July 15 due to the UK’s high number of coronavirus cases.

Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis confirmed that no direct flights from the UK could land in Greece until July 15, two weeks after the proposed date.

Greece has gone largely unscathed by coronavirus with just 3,390 confirmed cases and 191 deaths compared to the UK’s 312,000 cases and 43,575 deaths.

An easyJet spokesperson said: "Following today’s announcement by the Greek authorities, we will being reviewing our flying schedule and any customers whose flights are required to be cancelled as a result of any restrictions will be notified and informed of their options which include a free of charge transfer, a voucher for the value of their booking or a refund.”

A BA spokesperson told the Standard it would not comment on when BA would resume flights to Greece as the situation was ‘dynamic’.

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A TUI spokesperson added: “We’re pleased the Government has finally confirmed that holidays overseas will be able to go ahead and we can’t wait to take our customers on holiday to some of their favourite destinations from July 11, all subject to Government guidelines. It’s a positive step forward for the travel industry.

"In accordance with updated advice from the Greek Government, our planned flights to Greece between July 11-14 won’t go ahead and customers have been informed."

TUI was set to resume its holidays to Greece on July 11 but will need to push this date back four days under the new guidance.

Greece is among the countries expected to be announced as air bridge partners with the UK later this week, which would allow for quarantine-free travel between nations.