Brits heading on Turkey holidays in the coming weeks have been urged to contact their airlines and be aware of local advice.
At the start of this week devastating earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria, destroying huge numbers of buildings and killing thousands of people.
The disaster has triggered an international relief and rescue effort, with emergency workers still attempting to save trapped families from the rubble days later.
The horrendous disaster and shocking images coming out of the country has understandably led people with holidays booked in Turkey to question whether they could or should still go.
We've rounded up the latest travel advice from the Foreign Office and airlines about travel to the country during half term, based on holidays planned from February 13 to 17.
What is the Foreign Office saying?
The UK's Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for those planning trips to the country, but it has not advised against travel in general.
The organisation urged people planning trips to Turkey to follow the information and advice from local authorities and their tour operator.
"If you’re in the Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras or neighbouring provinces and it is safe to do so, contact your friends and family to tell them you are safe," the advice continues.
"If you require consular assistance, you should call our 24-hour helpline on +90 312 455 3344 and select the option for “consular services for British nationals,” or send an enquiry via the web contact form."
Travel advice can change quickly - always check the latest Foreign Office Turkey advice before booking or going abroad.
Will my flight be running?
Flights to the parts of Turkey which are most popular with Brits are continuing to run unaffected, including to airports in Istanbul and Bodrum.
The three airports closest to the scene of the disaster - Gazientep Airport and Ceyhan - shut in the days following the quake for anything but aid flights, Crisis 24 reports.
Hatay Airport is also not operating after its runway was damaged because of the earthquake.
Turkish Airlines told the Mirror that the earthquake had only shut Hatay Airport and that it was running additional flights to and from other airports in the region to help ferry out survivors and in aid workers and cargo.
"There has been no specific diverts or cancellations on our flight schedule due to this situation," a spokesperson told The Mirror.
"However, as you may appreciate, delays and cancellations are possible depending on weather conditions."
A spokesperson for TUI told the Mirror that holidays in and flights to the resort of Antalya, which is 800km from the earthquake, were unaffected.
"The TUI Care Foundation has launched a fundraising campaign and will match every donation made. All funds raised will go directly towards emergency aid on the ground," the airline added.
Jet2 confirmed not flights to or from Turkey had been cancelled or were likely to be, and Ryanair does not run any services to the country.
A spokesperson for easyJet said: "We don’t operate to the affected region and our schedule is currently operating as planned but we are monitoring the situation closely."
Some Turkish flight companies such as Turkish airlines/AnadoluJet and Pegasus are offering discounted or free evacuation flights out of the affected area.
If you need to, check the information on their websites to see if this applies to your journey.
Which parts of the country have been affected?
The worst of the natural disaster hit the south east corner of Turkey and neighbouring Syria.
The 7.8 earthquake struck Gaziantep and nine other Turkish provinces - Hatay, Osmaniye, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Sanliurfa, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Adana, Malatya - followed hours later by another 7.5 magnitude quake.
If you are heading out to Turkey for a holiday, it is unlikely that you'll be staying close to the impacted regions, as most resorts and hotspots are in the west and south of the country.
Can I cancel my holiday for free?
If you don't feel safe travelling to the country or don't feel comfortable doing so for whatever reason, it's important to know your rights.
Unfortunately, it is unlikely that you'll be able to cancel a package holiday without incurring some costs.
According to Citizen's Advice, fee-free cancellations can usually be obtained if:
- the holiday company makes significant changes to your holiday
- it puts certain prices up after you book
- you can’t get to your destination because of exceptional circumstances - like war or a natural disaster
Unless you are travelling to the affected areas and your flight is cancelled, it is unlikely you'll fall into this category.
"If you change your mind about going, you can cancel but you’ll probably have to pay a fee," Citizen Advice explains.
"You might be covered for cancelling a trip if you have travel insurance - check your policy or contact the insurance company if you’re not sure.
