The UK government is organising emergency charter flights to evacuate British tourists stranded in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa.
As many as 8,000 Britons are thought to be stranded on the Caribbean island. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has urged them to register their presence through the government website to receive updates on the hurricane.
Melissa is currently battering the Bahamas with “damaging winds and flooding rains” after killing at least 34 people across Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti.
The storm, which began as Category 5 and has now weakened to Category 2, is also expected to pass near Bermuda.
Major airports in Jamaica, including Sangster International Airport (MBJ) and Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) are closed following structural damage and extensive flooding.
All flights to and from the island have been cancelled. Airlines are issuing waivers and allowing re-bookings without change fees where flights have been cancelled. Agents should flag all bookings to Jamaica, eastern Cuba, the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos for potential delays or cancellations and advise clients to check flight status and re-booking options.
Passengers are instructed not to go to the airports and to confirm their flight status with their airline before traveling to the airport once it reopens.
Many resorts and smaller accommodation providers may be closed or operating at reduced capacity, while shore excursions, outdoor activities and transport may be suspended for safety and restoration works.
Although detailed reports for Cuba and other islands are still emerging, agents should caution clients that even once flights resume, ground services may be disrupted and local tours or beach facilities may be unavailable.
American Airlines has reported that its operations will resume today at the airport in Holguín, Cuba (HOG), stating that the airline is “assessing damage” at other airports in Cuba, including Santiago de Cuba (SCU).
In a statement issued yesterday (October 29) Julia Lo Bue-Said OBE, Chief Executive Officer of The Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by the devastation of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and Cuba. We hope that emergency services are able to respond swiftly and that conditions begin to improve soon, though we understand recovery efforts may take some time.
“We strongly advise all travellers to closely monitor updates and guidance from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which has issued warnings of catastrophic flash floods and landslides as well as severe damage to infrastructure in both destinations.
“At present, the Jamaican government has closed its international airports until further notice while there have been significant flight cancellations to Cuba. For those who have booked a holiday to either of these countries, check directly with your airline for the latest flight information and with your travel insurance to check for any reimbursements of costs, which may be available.
“For travellers who have booked holidays to other Caribbean destinations, we recommend monitoring the trajectory of the hurricane and to continue following the latest FCDO travel guidance in case you are impacted.
“As Jamaica and Cuba recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, tourism will play a vital role in supporting local communities and rebuilding the economy. Travellers returning to the islands once it is safe to do so will help sustain jobs, small businesses, and the wider recovery efforts that are essential to restoring livelihoods and stability.”
With Melissa likely to continue affecting other parts of the Caribbean, such as Turks and Caicos, agents should stay alert for further updates on route disruptions and destination service availability.
The FCDO is inviting British nationals in Jamaica to register their presence to receive updates and also urging them to follow travel advice in addition to advice from the local authorities.
The UK government is positioning specialist Rapid Deployment Teams in the region and preparing to deliver humanitarian assistance and specialist support to affected areas in Jamaica, if requested.
The Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has issued a statement saying: “Many people will be thinking about family and friends in Jamaica in the face of this very serious storm.
“We are closely tracking the impact of Hurricane Melissa across the Caribbean. British nationals should follow our travel advice and the advice of the local authorities.
“We offer the UK’s full support and stand ready to mobilise resources to support British nationals and Jamaica, at its request.”
In the updated travel advisory for Cuba, the FCDO said: “The storm is expected to bring exceptional levels of wind and rainfall, and to result in flash floods, landslides and storm surges.
“Infrastructure and services are likely to be severely impacted, including a risk of power failure.”
It’s current advice on The Bahamas is as follows: “Hurricane Melissa has developed into a major hurricane and is forecast to bring exceptional levels of rainfall and high storm surges in the coming days. Local authorities continue to monitor the weather system closely.
“Stay informed by monitoring local and international weather updates, including from the Bahamas Department of Meteorology website, as well as the US National Hurricane Centre.
