Facing the tense situation in the Middle East, Tui chief executive Sebastian Ebel announced that the company will begin repatriation operations for stranded German holidaymakers. “We hope we can start the repatriation operation today” Ebel told RTL and ntv.
Around 30 000 Germans are currently in the region as tourists, including roughly 10 000 Tui customers. The first flights are scheduled to leave for Munich, with partner airlines Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways already on standby. Tui’s own Tuifly aircraft are also prepared to operate as soon as “we obtain permission to fly there and can pick up customers as quickly as possible”.
The company is in contact with almost all affected guests through its own app. “Of course we bring our customers home. That is our core mission” Ebel said, adding that they will “do everything possible given the security situation”.
The exact duration of the operation is difficult to predict. With 10 000 customers onboard, the effort is expected to take several days, but this will depend on the availability of secure air corridors and the rapidly evolving military conditions, making a precise timetable hard to provide.
