CORONAVIRUS TRAVEL ADVICE - WILL THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS HAPPEN? TRAVEL UPDATES FROM FRANCE & SPAIN, TUI HOLIDAYS, EASYJET CANCELLATIONS & MORE

i News 19 April 2020 -

July and August are usually two of the busiest months in the travel calendar. However, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen has cautioned that nobody can make reliable forecasts as to whether borders will reopen by then and has urged people not to make summer holiday plans in Europe as the coronavirus pandemic continues to grip the Continent.

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Moreover, French President Emanuel Macron, speaking to the nation’s trade unions, suggested that the Schengen area’s external borders should remain closed until September. Our own government has now extended lockdown until at least 7 May. With hundreds of thousands of trips cancelled as a result of the Foreign Office advising against all non-essential travel, does this mean that summer holidays are likely to follow suit?

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Noel Josephides, director of industry issues at AITO – The Specialist Travel Association, says: “Those using the services of Jet2 and easyJet etc, are dependent on when those airlines decide to start flying again. In theory, this should be around mid-June; however, no-one is holding their breath.

“New interest in peak season holidays is likely to materialise at the last minute and is likely to be slow in getting off the ground. Many factors will be part of the decision-making mix: which countries will still be in lock-down, for example. No doubt there will be countries that may not wish to welcome British visitors until the situation in the UK is clearer.”

Will my holiday to France this August take place?

French President Emmanuel Macron wears a face mask during the visit of the military field hospital outside the Emile Muller Hospital in Mulhouse, eastern France (Photo: Mathieu Cugnot/AFP/Getty)

France has extended its lockdown for a further three weeks until 11 May and its borders are closed to non-EU citizens until further notice (British nationals are considered EU nationals until the end of this year). According to a spokesperson for the France Tourism Development Agency, the country’s tourism sector is expected to remain closed until mid-July.

It is possible that by August, movements will still be restricted, but at this stage it is impossible to say with any certainty that tourism to France will have resumed.

If plans haven’t been cancelled by your travel provider, it would be advisable to wait until nearer the time of departure for an update or to seek a refund.

Can I get a refund for an easyJet flight to Malaga in late July?

EasyJet’s fleet has been grounded until further notice. Customers with cancelled bookings have the option to request a refund (by phone), rebook for any other flight until February 2021 or accept a voucher for the value of their booking, valid until winter 2021.

The airline has not indicated when flights will resume and has furloughed staff until June; so far flights have been cancelled until mid-May but it is likely that cancellations will be rolling. Therefore, wait for your flight to be cancelled to ensure you receive the refund you are entitled to.

A spokesperson for the Spanish Tourist Office said: “It’s still unknown how the pandemic will evolve so it is impossible to make forecasts about the summer season. This won’t just depend on the situation in Spain but also on the situation in our source markets. The opening of borders will depend on the evolution of the health crisis. Safety is our first priority.”

TUI has cancelled holidays until mid-May (Photo: Getty)

If I decide to postpone my TUI summer holiday, will I be able to move it to next summer without paying any more?

TUI beach holidays have been cancelled until 14 May, with later departures “continually reviewed”. If you have booked a holiday due to depart after 30 June, you should assume it will go ahead and that amendment fees will apply.

However, if you are due to depart before 30 June, and booked before 17 March, you can change the date to another holiday. You will be asked to pay the difference if it is more expensive or you will be refunded the difference if it is cheaper. The same will apply if your holiday is cancelled, although you’d also be entitled to a refund.

I’ve paid a deposit for a summer holiday and have been asked to settle the balance. Should I pay?

If you can and it is a financially protected package, yes. An Atol-bonded holiday means that any money you’ve paid is safe, and by paying the balance on time, you won’t be contravening the agreement you entered into when committing to the holiday - most operators ask for the money 10-12 weeks before departure. If the trip is cancelled, you are entitled to all of your money back, but if you don’t pay the balance, you risk losing your deposit.

Is the UK a safe bet for a summer holiday?

That depends on how long the government continues to advise against all non-essential travel in the UK. Haven, Center Parcs and Butlins have closed their parks until 14 May and Forest Holidays until 27 April and a spokesperson for Visit England says that they will not encourage or promote travel for the foreseeable time.

However, domestic tourism is likely to rebound before international travel, if new Covid-19 cases come under control. If you are considering a self-catering holiday, it would be advisable to book with a company that is offering flexible rebooking options.