Morocco has announced a ban on flights to and from the UK due to rising coronavirus infection rate.
The ban comes into effect from 11.59pm on Wednesday, and airlines have already cancelled several flights between the countries.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control show that the North African nation’s weekly rate of reported coronavirus cases on October 14 stood at just 10.4 per 100,000 people - the current rate in the UK is 445.5 per 100,000 people.
Two flights from Gatwick and Manchester to Marrakech have already been cancelled on Wednesday by EasyJet, but the airline will operate in the opposite direction to bring Brits back before the ban comes into force.
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The airline said in a statement: “We are still awaiting clarity from the Moroccan authorities as to whether we are permitted to operate repatriation flights beyond midnight today.”
British Airways cancelled flights between Heathrow and Marrakech, which were due to resume on Thursday after being suspended due to the pandemic.
The flight ban will affect families in England and Wales who booked half-term holidays in Morocco for next week.
Morocco’s National Office of Airports said the policy will remain in place “until further notice”.
The country is also banning flights to and from Germany and the Netherlands.
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