Low-cost carrier Jet2.com Limited, more commonly known as just Jet2, has canceled all its flights to Spain’s Balearic islands due to UK quarantine rules. The United Kingdoms’ third-biggest airline after British Airways and easyJet made the decision three days ago based on UK government quarantine rules.
The United Kingdom now requires that anyone returning from Spain must self-isolate for at least 14-days when they get home. The move follows a spike in coronavirus inspection in Spain that is concentrated in Aragon and neighboring Catalonia.
Spain says the UK has made a mistake
Meanwhile, the Spanish government claims they have the outbreak under control and that tourist destinations in Spain are safer than the UK. While being interviewed by Spanish television broadcaster Telecinco, the BBC reports Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez with saying the UK had made an “error” by considering the infection rate for the whole country.
He added that “64.5% of the new cases registered are in two territories.” In most of Spain, the prevalence of COVID-19 was “very much inferior to the numbers registered in the United Kingdom.”
Flight to other parts of Spain are also suspended
As things stand now, all flights to the Balearics are canceled for the remainder of the summer. Along with canceling all flights to Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza, the Leeds-Bradford Airport-based airline said it was suspending flights to Mainland Spain and the Canary Islands until September 13.
CUSTOMER UPDATE – 27.08.20 pic.twitter.com/ScCeFiEuNz
— Jet2tweets (@jet2tweets) August 27, 2020
To make up for the cancelations, Jet2 is adding flights to Greece, Portugal, and Turkey, all three of which are not on the UK quarantine list.
In a statement released by Jet2, and carried by the Mallorcan Daily Bulletin the package holiday experts said their decision was based on many factors in the current climate. This is especially true of the “ongoing uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and UK government advice.”
They went on to say, “we have taken the difficult decision to suspend flights and holidays to the Balearic Islands (Ibiza, Majorca, and Menorca) for the rest of Summer 2020.”
“We are obviously very disappointed to be making this announcement, as we know how much our customers look forward to their well-deserved holidays in these fantastic destinations.”
For many people and especially those who have family members retired in Spain, the news will come as a shock.
A Jet2 spokesperson said:
“Bookings for next summer are looking strong, and we cannot wait to be back doing what we do best – working with hoteliers and our partners in Ibiza, Majorca, and Menorca to make sure customers enjoy their well-deserved holidays.”
It isn’t easy to make plans
Given the current climate and the ongoing pandemic, it isn’t easy to make plans. Governments can close borders, or airlines cancel flights without any notice. For this reason, people are choosing to vacation closer to home this summer. The lack of tourists, not just from the UK but other countries worldwide, is having a devastating effect on an industry that supplies Spain with 12% of its GDP.
Do you feel confident in making an airline booking right now, or do you think it is better to wait and see what happens with the virus? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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