One of Britain鈥檚 biggest airlines has said it will ensure passenger are flown back to the 海角视频 as it announced plans to cancel services.
The boss of Jet2 and Jet2holidays said they were suspending services to many of their holiday and city destinations 鈥 but would not leave passengers stranded overseas.
Chief executive Steve Heapy said the company would even lay on extra flights to bring home their own customers and those who might have been let down by other operators.
Further significant disruption is expected to the sector over the coming days and weeks as the impact of the coronavirus takes hold, with warnings that many airlines may not survive.
Industry body Airlines 海角视频 has already urged the Government to step in and help.
It said: "We're talking about the future of 海角视频 aviation - one of our world-class industries - and unless the government pulls itself together who knows what will be left of it once we get out of this mess."
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has started advising British people against all non-essential travel worldwide for an initial period of 30 days as part of its response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
And last night Manchester Airport鈥檚 Group announced drastic cost-cutting measures - including temporary job cuts - in a bid to secure its future during the pandemic.
The group 鈥 which runs Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports - said it was bringing in 鈥渆nforced annual leave, reduced working hours, temporary pay cuts and temporary lay-offs鈥. It employs 5,000 people.
Jet 2 flies from Belfast, Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle to destinations across Europe.
It is a subsidiary of Dart Group Plc which reported revenues of 拢2.6 billion in the six months to September 30, and pre-tax profits of 拢340 million.
Steve Heapy said: 鈥淎s a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, governments and local authorities in many of our destinations are introducing exceptional measures which we know will have a significant impact on our customers鈥 holidays.
鈥淲hilst of course the health and safety of our customers is our number one priority, we are also acutely aware of our responsibility as an award-winning airline and tour operator to look after our customers and provide them with the very best experience.
鈥淚n line with guidance from the 海角视频 Foreign & Commonwealth Office, as well from governments and local authorities, we have taken the decision to suspend flights to many destinations.
鈥淲hen customers cannot visit bars, restaurants, shops and ski resorts, or take part in activities such as water sports, we know this is the right thing to do.
鈥淲e also know that flying customers back to the 海角视频 is the right thing to do. With this responsibility in mind, we are continuing to operate our scheduled programme, with aircraft flying empty from the 海角视频 so that we can fill them and bring customers home.
鈥淚n addition to that programme of scheduled flights, we are putting on extra aircraft to bring customers home, some of who may not have been offered flights home by their airline.
鈥淭his is an enormously fast-moving and complex situation, however customers and independent travel agents can be rest assured that our teams are doing the right thing for them.
鈥淲e are contacting our customers who are currently in destination, and who are due to travel, to advise them of their options.
鈥淲e urge customers not to call us please, as we are experiencing high call volumes. We will be in touch with our customers based on their planned departure date.
鈥淲e recognise that this is an extremely challenging time, and we would like thank all of our customers and independent travel agency partners for their understanding and patience."
Warning Britons not to travel overseas if they can help it for at least 30 days, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: 鈥満＝鞘悠 travellers abroad now face widespread international border restrictions and lock downs in various countries.
鈥淭he speed and range of those measures across other countries is unprecedented.
鈥淪o I have taken the decision to advise British nationals against all non-essential international travel.鈥
The Foreign Office said Britons who decide that they still need to travel abroad should be fully aware of the increased risks of doing so 鈥 including the possibility of being stranded.
It is not currently advising British people to immediately return to the 海角视频 if they are overseas, except from a few specific countries detailed in travel advice.
But British travellers are urged to bear in mind the prospect of flights being cancelled at short notice or additional restrictions being imposed by the local authorities.
Mr Raab鈥檚 measures come after the European Union announced plans for a 30-day ban on non-residents entering the bloc, restrictions that are not expected to apply to Britons.
