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Tui to restart ex-UK holidays next month
Tui has announced plans to restart limited ex-UK summer holidays from next month.
The operator will offer eight destinations across Spain and Greece starting 11 July. Departures will be available from Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham.
There will be capacity for more than 8,000 holidaymakers to get away from the UK for the first time since mid-March.
Tui will initially operate up to 44 flights a week to Ibiza, Palma, Corfu, Crete, Kos Rhodes, Lanzarote and Tenerife.
It plans to add more flights and destinations throughout July to expand its offering to 19 destinations, flying from five UK airports – subject to government advice and approval.
“We’re really excited to be talking about taking people on holiday again," said Tui managing director UK and Ireland Andrew Flintham.
"We’re of course still waiting on the government to change its travel advice, but we’ve been working really hard behind the scenes and we’re ready to start taking holidaymakers away again in just a few weeks’ time."
Flintham said the operator was focusing initially on destinations where it anticipates air bridges being agreed.
"We know many Brits are eager to travel again, and we have ambitious plans to rapidly increase our programme as soon as possible," Flintham added.
Tui is introducing wide-ranging new health and safety measures; face masks will be mandatory onboard flights, while aircraft will be subject to enhanced cleaning and disinfection.
Passengers will be given hand sanitiser sachets upon boarding, and will be advised to remain seated as much as possible. Cabin crew will manage toilet queues.
In destination, there will be hand sanitation stations set up throughout hotels and social distancing markers placed on the floor. Hotels will also be deep-cleaned.
Restaurants will operate at reduced capacity with fewer tables to observe social distancing roles, but will stay open for longer. Table service will replace self-service in many hotels.
Leisure facilities like sports courts may be open for longer to allow for social distancing, and sun loungers at pools and beaches will be disinfected between guests.
Tui has also introduced a holiday promise, which it says will "guarantee" standards; guests will be able to access 24-hour rep support via an app or their hotel or resort, while the operator has pledged not to operate to countries with quarantine requirements.
If a holiday can’t go ahead due to coronavirus, guests will be able to change their booking to a different holiday, or otherwise opt for a credit note or full cash refund.
