Jet2 cancels all flights and holidays up to mid-June

Passengers will be contacted and offered full refunds or postponements

As the coronavirus crisis deepens, Britain’s second-biggest holiday company has cancelled all flights and holidays up to mid-June.

Jet2, based in Leeds but with operations from airports across the UK, made the move after the Foreign Office warned against overseas travel “indefinitely.”

The company offers both scheduled flights and package holidays.

A spokesperson said: “In view of the ongoing uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we have taken the decision to recommence our flights and holidays programme on 17 June.”

The decision means customers are entitled to a full refund within 14 days.

Many firms are currently unable to meet the repayment deadline stipulated by the Package Travel Regulations. Abta, the travel trade association, is lobbying to have the refund deadline extended.

Jet2 will contact all passengers booked to fly before 17 June.

“We are proactively contacting customers in departure date order to discuss their options, one of which is rebooking their holiday to a later date,” the spokesperson said.

“We know just how important holidays are to our customers, and how much they give customers something to look forward to, particularly during difficult times such as these.

“We recognise that these unprecedented events have had a huge impact on our customers, and we would like to thank them for their loyalty, understanding and patience.

“Although these are difficult times for everyone, the sun will come out again.”

The move does not necessarily mean that all planned Jet2 operations will re-start on 17 June.

The spokesperson said: “We are keeping this decision under constant review, in line with guidance from governments and the relevant authorities.”