British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Thomson and Thomas Cook cancelled or delayed flights bound for the Caribbean and Florida as the worst hurricane in 25 years struck the region.
Thomas Cook said that 6,312 of its British holidaymakers were in the Caribbean, including more than 4,800 in Cuba. The operator is sending an 18-strong specialist team to assist them.
Cruise ships carrying about 20,000 passengers were re-routed around the storm, sailing to safety in the western Caribbean.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised Britons in the hurricane’s path to follow any advice issued by local officials, including evacuation orders.
At least seven people have been killed as Hurricane Irma left a trail of devastation with wide speeds of up to 185 mph.
The category five hurricane struck the Leeward Islands of Antigua and Barbuda yesterday and was expected to follow a path past Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and the Bahamas before reaching Florida at the weekend.
Barbuda is reported to be “barely habitable” while officials warn that the French territory of St Martin is almost destroyed, including the airport.
The death toll is likely to rise with the scale of the damage still emerging as two other storms strengthened to become hurricanes.
Thomson delayed two flights from Manchester and Gatwick bound for the Dominican Republic yesterday and today until Friday but cancelled a service from Gatwick to Varadero in Cuba due to depart today.
Late afternoon sun casting a shadow on Hurricane #Irma‘s eye. #GOES16pic.twitter.com/CQaSgHzVN6
— NASA SPoRT (@NASA_SPoRT) September 5, 2017
Flights to Sanford in Florida between today and Sunday are planned to operate as normal but are being closely monitored.
“We encourage customers due to travel to Florida, Dominican Republic and Cuba in the coming days to check our website regularly for updates,” Thomson said.
“The weather conditions are subject to change, however we are monitoring the situation very closely with our resort team and the local authorities in the affected areas and will advise customers of any changes to their holiday plans accordingly.
“We would like to thank customers for their patience as we prioritise those due to travel first.”
Thomas Cook said that four flights had been rescheduled until later in the week, with the possibility of further delays. A Manchester-Miami flight due to depart tomorrow (Friday) is due to operate as normal but passengers travelling on package holidays are being given the option to cancel or opt for an alternative destination.
“There could be further delays depending on how the hurricane hits and we will be updating customers directly if there are any further changes to our flight schedules,” the company said.
A spokeswoman said: “As far as we are aware our hotels are still standing and our customers on Antigua are safe. We are continuing to monitor the situation and have sent an 18-strong special assistance team to Cuba and the Dominican Republic to give our customers in resorts support.”
Flights to and from several airports in Florida were being suspended, while Orlando’s international airport said that commercial flights would stop from 5pm local time on Saturday.
All inclusive operator Sandals has 350 Britons on holiday across Antigua, the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.
A spokeswoman said: “Everyone in Antigua is safe and will be able to travel home as scheduled. Our other guests are being told to follow the advice at their resort.”
Caribtours moved around 40 holidaymakers out of the storm’s path from islands including Antigua and the British Virgin Islands to other parts of the Caribbean, including St Lucia, Grenada and Barbados.
Managing director Paul Cleary said: “We moved people on Sunday. We have partnerships with hoteliers and have found similar accommodation for clients on other islands. It’s remarkable how optimistic and pragmatic people are.”
The operator has around five bookings for the Dominican Republic, with holidaymakers due to depart the UK in the middle of next week.
“It will be a judgement call but we would rather play it safe and give people’s money back,” Cleary said.
Hurricane Irma was causing much concern, despite early reports that some islands such as Antigua had not been as badly affected as was first feared, he added.
“The feeling of dread is one of the worst I have ever known. It has given us cause for real concern,” Cleary admitted.
Holidaymakers at luxury resorts in The Bahamas were told that they would be moved from coastal areas to emergency shelters.
British Airways laid on a special evacuation flight from Antigua on Tuesday, flying 326 passengers home before the hurricane hit.
It also cancelled two flights that day and another two yesterday. The airline is reviewing its services through the region in the coming days but more flights are expected to be grounded.
BA said: “We are doing all we can to get our customers to their final destinations, and anyone booked to fly with us to Antigua, Grand Cayman, Nassau, St Kitts, Punta Cana or Providenciales before 10 September and who wishes to change their travel plans should contact us for a range of rebook options available to them.
“They can choose to travel to an alternative Caribbean destination or delay the flight to another date before 30 September.
“We are also providing rebook options for customers booked to fly with us to/from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, or Orlando between 8-12 September. They can choose to fly to the same destination as originally booked, between 6-12 September or 12-30 September.
“We are keeping our flights to other Caribbean islands under review, and we are in regular contact with the airport authorities as the storm moves through the area.”
Virgin Atlantic cancelled a flight to Antigua due to take off today and has warned of the possibility of further cancellations in the coming days.
“Customers who are currently in Orlando and are booked to return to the UK on the 10th or 11th September 2017, are strongly encouraged to amend their dates to return earlier on either 8th or 9th September 2017,” the airline said.
Antigua and Barbuda prime minister Gaston Browne said: “While there has been property damage, it is not anywhere near the horrendous injury that was feared.
“The essential point is that our main infrastructure has stood-up and our country can resume normal life within hours.
“Ours has been an exceptional story of resilience, honed by past experience and by the high level of our preparedness to confront the challenges of the world’s mightiest and most dangerous hurricane.”
Browne this morning described Barbuda as “barely habitable” with 95% of properties suffering hurricane damage and the island under water.
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