Post by andypspotter on Mar 14, 2020 12:26:06 GMT
Jet2 planes heading to Spain have been turned around in mid-air as the airline cancelled all flights to the mainland, Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands because of coronavirus.
Confirmed cases in Spain have risen by 1,500 in 24 hours and thousands of people have been placed in lockdown.
The country's death toll has reached 120 and it is set to enter a two-week state of emergency.
Jet2 said the health and safety of its customers was its number-one priority.
It comes as a newborn baby and its mother tested positive for the coronavirus in England.
According to the Sun newspaper, medics are trying to confirm whether the baby, who was tested at North Middlesex Hospital, was infected during birth or before.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is currently meeting officials at Downing Street to discuss the pandemic.
A further 22 new cases have been confirmed in Wales, bringing the confirmed total in the UK to 820. A total of 11 people have died.
But the government said on Friday it estimated the true number of cases to be around 5,000 to 10,000.
Jet2 is based at nine UK airports and flies to destinations including Alicante, Malaga and Lanzarote.
The airline said the decision to cancel flights, which would take immediate effect, was in response to Spain's decision to shut bars, restaurants, shops and activities.
It said it was liaising with customers who were already in Spain.
"We know these local measures will have a significant impact on our customers' holidays, which is why we have taken this decision," the spokesperson added.
"This is a fast-moving and complex situation and we are reviewing our programme as a matter of urgency, so that we can fly customers back to the UK."
Flight tracking information shows five Jet2 planes travelling to Spain have turned around and returned to the UK.
Confirmed cases in Spain have risen by 1,500 in 24 hours and thousands of people have been placed in lockdown.
The country's death toll has reached 120 and it is set to enter a two-week state of emergency.
Jet2 said the health and safety of its customers was its number-one priority.
It comes as a newborn baby and its mother tested positive for the coronavirus in England.
According to the Sun newspaper, medics are trying to confirm whether the baby, who was tested at North Middlesex Hospital, was infected during birth or before.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is currently meeting officials at Downing Street to discuss the pandemic.
A further 22 new cases have been confirmed in Wales, bringing the confirmed total in the UK to 820. A total of 11 people have died.
But the government said on Friday it estimated the true number of cases to be around 5,000 to 10,000.
Jet2 is based at nine UK airports and flies to destinations including Alicante, Malaga and Lanzarote.
The airline said the decision to cancel flights, which would take immediate effect, was in response to Spain's decision to shut bars, restaurants, shops and activities.
It said it was liaising with customers who were already in Spain.
"We know these local measures will have a significant impact on our customers' holidays, which is why we have taken this decision," the spokesperson added.
"This is a fast-moving and complex situation and we are reviewing our programme as a matter of urgency, so that we can fly customers back to the UK."
Flight tracking information shows five Jet2 planes travelling to Spain have turned around and returned to the UK.