Thomas Cook is “closely” monitoring the path of Hurricane Dorian as it moves towards Florida, and says it will review its flight schedule into early next week.
The operator told Travel Weekly all weekend flights are currently scheduled to operate as usual, after agents received a message from its trade team which suggested its customers would not be sent to Florida for four days.
The National Hurricane Centre expects the hurricane to strengthen into an “extremely dangerous” category four hurricane and hit Florida on Monday. Forecasts suggest it could be the strongest storm to hit the region for three decades.
Agents received a statement from Cook’s trade team on Friday afternoon, which read: “The safety of our customers is our number one priority so we have taken the decision to send no holidaymakers to Florida on Saturday August 31, Sunday [September] 1, Monday [September] 2, and Tuesday [September] 3.”
It added that Cook’s staff would call agents’ customers to inform them.
But later on Friday, Cook updated its website to say flights are going ahead as planned in the “fluid situation” and said it is offering customers booked to travel up to Thursday September 5 free amendments or cancellations.
More: Airlines braced for onset of ‘devastating’ Hurricane Dorian
The later statement said: “Hurricane Dorian is tracking towards the Bahamas and is now forecast to hit Florida on Tuesday morning as a category 4 hurricane. Florida has declared a state of emergency and its governor anticipates Dorian to be the strongest hurricane to hit the east coast in nearly three decades.
“The safety of our customers is always our first priority. This is a fluid situation, and we continue to monitor Hurricane Dorian closely and are in regular contact with Orlando airport. We have also arranged for 19 of our special assistance team members to fly to Orlando to help our customers in Florida as the hurricane passes through.
“We are currently operating all of our scheduled flights this weekend as normal. We will review flights scheduled for early next week as the hurricane develops, and continue to provide further updates to our customers over the coming days.
“As with all hurricanes, the local government has tried and tested procedures which are activated when a hurricane warning is issued. Our teams on the ground and our hotel partners are working with the authorities to keep our customers safe, comfortable and well-informed.
“We are offering free amendments or cancellations for all customers who wish to do so, for travel up to and including Thursday September 5.”
Credit: Travel Weekly
http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/341636/hurricane-dorian-thomas-cook-florida-flights-to-go-ahead
