LONDON (UK) – Britain shall be spending 75 million pounds to get home the stranded citizens on charter flights, according to British foreign minister Dominic Raab.
Raab added that airlines would be flexible in commercial routes when possible.
Closed airspace and restricted travel in most countries in order to contain the coronavirus spread and EasyJet grounded its entire fleet.
British travellers stranded across the globe will be flown home under the new arrangement with airlines like British Airways, easyJet, Virgin, Jet2 and Titan offering alternative bookings where routes are cancelled.
“Where commercial flights are no longer running, the government will provide the necessary financial support for special charter flights to bring UK nationals back home. We’ve designated 75 million pounds to support those flights and the airlines in order to keep the cost down and affordable for those seeking to return to the UK.”
– Dominic Raab, British Foreign Minister
Raab and British Transport Minister Grant Shapps stated that vulnerable populations will be prioritised in the repatriation efforts but the special flights were not intended for those symptomatic, who should ideally self-isolate.
The chartered flights shall be operating on a strict cost-recovery basis paid by taxpayers, ticketed via a government-procured management company foreign office (FCO) determined rates.
“Those genuinely unable to pay will be offered an emergency loan by the FCO if they have exhausted all other avenues.”
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.
