TT. Tui Travel

U.K.-based travel operators Thomas Cook Group PLC (TCG.LN) and TUI Travel PLC (TT.LN) said Friday they were evacuating British travellers from Tunisia and cancelling upcoming flights, after the U.K. government advised against all but essential travel to the country due to large-scale violent demonstrations across the country.

On its website, Thomas Cook said it was evacuating all its British tourists from the country and was also cancelling scheduled chartered flights to Monastir airport in Tunisia on Jan. 16. It said it would try to contact all passengers booked onto the flights and passengers would be able to change their holiday to another destination.

TUI Travel, which operates to Tunisia under the Thomson and First Choice brands, said it also plans to bring all customers back to the U.K. and had cancelled all flights scheduled to depart Sunday and Wednesday. It said its first repatriation flight had landed back in the U.K. with 100 passengers on board, and it planned to bring back the remaining 1,437 customers as soon as possible. It has seven repatriation flights planned for Saturday. However, it warned that flights to Geneva, Salzberg and some Spanish destinations would be delayed as planes were diverted to Tunisia for the repatriation.

Thomas Cook wasn't immediately available for contact, but media reports in the U.K. said some 2,000 travellers were being brought back to the U.K. from Tunisia by Thomas Cook.

British Airways PLC (BAY.LN) said it was reviewing its services to the country and passengers should check the status of their flights before leaving for the airport.

The BBC reported Friday that Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali had fled the country after being forced from power as economic issues caused protests and demonstrations against him. A state of emergency has been declared in the country and Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi had taken over as interim President until elections are called, the BBC said.

-By Steve McGrath, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9284; steve.mcgrath@dowjones.com

TUI Travel (LSE:TT.)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Jun 2024 bis Jul 2024

TUI Travel (LSE:TT.)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Jul 2023 bis Jul 2024