After Friday’s announcement from NATS that flights would resume at 7am on Saturday, we were ever hopeful. With Steppes Travel having more than 80 clients and 3 staff stuck overseas, it has become a major operation to keep the clients informed and to assist in any way we can.
The eruption of one of Iceland’s volcanoes has left British airspace closed since Thursday 15th April and will remain closed until it is deemed safe enough for aircraft to fly.
Many of our clients have been happy to extend their holiday for a few days, but without knowing when clients will be able to fly again, we have had to start looking for alternatives. With flights able to land in Spain, there are the possibilities for continuing to the UK via rail or ferry.
After their holiday to Spitsbergen (Arctic), one couple this weekend decided they would try everything to return home, even if it meant 5 days travelling by plane, ferry, train and hire car. Rosalind, our Assistant Marketing Manager, will tonight embark on her overland journey from Marrakech, starting on an overnight train to Tangiers.
Short of remaining on holiday indefinitely, it is looking more likely that the majority of our clients will have to travel overland. Ferry companies and the Eurostar are now working overtime to provide enough services for the increased demand. Even if flights resume, there is likely to be a long delay in flight re-scheduling.
Under our bonding licence SteppesTravel are only obliged to assist clients for whom we have arranged flights for, however we have decided to extend this policy. So whatever the outcome, we are ready to assist ALL our clients in planning their journey back to the UK.