Operators and airlines have cancelled trips to Turkey following a terrorist attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk International airport that left 42 people dead and 239 injured.
Intrepid Group and Celebrity Cruises have both taken the decision to axe journeys after the violence - which saw three attackers shooting inside and outside the terminal building before blowing themselves up.
The adventure travel group has cancelled departures to the country for the next week, up to and including July 5, and has said it will “make an assessment” on its trips departing from July 6 onwards “once we have more information regarding the reopening of Ataturk International airport.”
“Our team of local experts is currently working on the ground in Istanbul to update us regularly on the security situation, and we are doing everything we can to provide support and assist with alternative arrangements for effected passengers,” Intrepid said.
The operator also confirmed that none of its passengers had been affected during the incident.
Elsewhere Celebrity Cruises has announced it will halt all upcoming calls to Istanbul and replace them with stops in Athens.
The line said its global security team had made the move “in the interests of our guests’ safety and we apologise for the impact on their cruise”.
“Our guests’ holiday time is precious and we did not take this decision lightly. The safety of our guests and crew is always our foremost concern,” Celebrity continued.
Meanwhile, British Airways is to operate a reduced service to Ataturk airport today after cancelling all its flights to the terminal in the wake of the attack.
The airline said it recognised that passengers “may not wish to travel as a result of the incident” and that as a result, had “introduced a more flexible rebooking policy so that you can travel on alternative dates, or to an alternative destination”.
“We are keeping the situation regarding other scheduled flights to/from Istanbul under regular review and are awaiting more information from the authorities in Turkey.
“If you are due to fly on a BA-operated flight to or from Istanbul up to and including Sunday July 3, you can rebook to a later date or use the money you have spent towards an alternative destination,” BA said.