BA Holidays retracts Caribbean flights
Following the British government’s strict enforcement of its coronavirus countermeasures, the British Airways Holidays decided to withdraw its package deals to the Caribbean and other parts of the world this Friday.
Last Sunday, the holiday booking arm of Britain’s flag carrier was still keeping this offer despite the UK in lockdown and other firms halting holidays.
In addition to trips to the Caribbean, BA Holidays was still offering breaks to Barbados, Costa Rica, Antigua and St Lucia.
Earlier this week, other leisure travel companies like Tui, Jet2 and Virgin Holidays have cancelled operations until mid-February because of the tighter rules.
“You should not travel abroad unless it is permitted. This means you must not go on holiday,” the Gov.uk website reiterated.
“We’ve been in touch with customers due to travel in the coming days and weeks to offer a refund if their travel plans do not meet Government guidelines for permitted travel,” BA Holidays told the BBC in an article. “As it’s now clear most customers are travelling for leisure, we have decided to withdraw package deals from sale. Customers legally permitted to travel during the lockdown period remain able to book flights for their essential travel via ba.com.”
BA Holidays disclosed that breaks are still being sold, since most passengers who avail of the package are business people. This alternative has been helping them with travel arrangements.
The year 2020 was the toughest for the aviation industry, when international and local travel were halted due to worldwide lockdowns. Most airlines and airports reported some of their worst results in their history.
“Most travel companies have reacted swiftly and fairly to the new lockdown rules, suspending their programmes and offering refunds or credit notes at a time when the UK travel industry continues to face immense challenges,” said Sophie Griffiths, editor of The Travel Trade Gazette.
What’s worse, Griffiths added, is that the industry “has still not received any dedicated support from the UK government,” unlike other countries such as the United Arab Emirates.
On social media there has been a growing movement reacting to people who have chosen to go on holiday in recent weeks. Dubbed as ‘covid vigilantes’, this have been naming and shaming alleged rule breakers, who they believe disregard the health protocols set up to stop the spread of coronavirus.