ARCHIVED - Consternation as Jet2 cancels flights to Corvera airport

Flights into Alicante airport are continuing

Dozens of readers have reported receiving messages from Jet2 on Tuesday announcing that the airline has cancelled their flights and those attempting to rebook for another date later this year are being told that there are no further flights scheduled for Corvera during the remainder of 2020.

Flights into Alicante, however, are continuing.

The airline says on its website that it has increased flights to Greece and Turkey due to “huge demand” following the decision of the British Government to apply a 14 day quarantine for all travellers from Spain entering the UK and advice from the Foreign Office against all but essential travel to Spain.

Since the measure was announced, many social media users have reported arriving on “half empty” flights and walking into terminals containing “more staff than passengers” in Spain.

Ironically, Spain is probably safer than any other destination including the UK, as beaches are virtually empty, bars and restaurants with reduced capacity still half empty, everyone wearing masks in public, dispensers of hand gel in virtually every shop and most people making a conscious effort to socially distance.

There are continuous outbreaks of Covid in Spain at the moment and cases are rising, as they are in the UK, but most of the outbreaks are in areas less popular with tourist visitors and are generally focused around specific sectors such as agriculture. Here in Murcia Mazarrón is a typical example; the outbreak is focused on an agricultural plant and is not affecting the tourist sector at all other than causing panic cancellations in hotels.

The cancellation of Jet2 flights is an inconvenience for the expat community and their visitors who will now be forced to drive to Alicante or re-book yet again with other airlines and the messages sent to passengers on Tuesday were greeted with deep frustration, irritation and consternation.

Some readers have reported multiple cancellations as they attempt to organise visits to family members or return home, with several airlines publishing flights which are then cancelled weeks or even days later. Arranging a visit to Spain is frustratingly difficult for some would-be travellers at the moment, and the aggravation of dealing with all the additional arrangements affected by the cancellations, such as car hire, transport and airport pàrking is another very good reason not to even bother trying any more; choosing another destination or simply staying in the UK will be the preferred option of some as a result.

It's also unwelcome news for local businesses; although reports from Alicante airport are very positive about security measures and travellers can easily fly into Alicante and then travel on to Murcia, it's another reason why travellers may exercise the option not to come at all in spite of reports in the UK media showing overcrowding on British beaches and the closure of British campsites due to Covid-19 outbreaks.

Corvera airport itself has suffered a huge drop in traffic this year due to the Covid crisis and operator Aena has already requested financial support from the regional government after making major losses in only the second year of the airport concession, so this additional loss of traffic will do little to ease its current situation.

Those commentating today could find only one silver lining in this particular thundercloud; at least Jet2 are a bit quicker on their refunds than some other airlines which could be mentioned!

Jet2 has not yet responded to a request for clarification and comment.