Industry updates on Turkey

Turkish Flag.
By Kate Webster


After Turkey’s Istanbul Ataturk Airport closed following terror attacks on site and travellers were urged to avoid the airport after suicide bombers who opened fire before blowing themselves up at the entrance, killing as many as 36 people and injuring over 120, the travel industry has responded.

Intrepid Travel, Peregrine Adventures, and Geckos Adventures

James Thornton, Managing Director Intrepid Group confirmed that that all Intrepid Travel, Peregrine Adventures, and Geckos Adventures travellers in Turkey are safe and have been accounted for.

Thornton said “The safety of our travellers and staff is always our first priority. Our operations team in Istanbul have been working hard to look after our travellers on the ground in Turkey, and we will make any changes needed to ensure the ongoing safety and wellbeing of all our passengers. We’re closely monitoring travel advisories and our next step has been to review our upcoming trips to Turkey. We will be providing an update to agents and travellers on any changes shortly.  Our thoughts are with the Turkish people and all those impacted by this event.”

We have made the difficult decision to cancel all Intrepid Group departures for the next week, up to and including the 5th of July. We will make an assessment on trips departing from the 6th of July 2016 onwards once we have more information regarding the re-opening of Atuturk Internaitonal Airport. We are doing everything we can to provide support and assist with alternative arrangements for effected passengers.  We’ll provide further information and updates on our safety pages as we have it: www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us/safety ; www.peregrineadventures.com/safety-updates ; www.geckosadventures.com/safety-updates

 

Celebrity Cruises Itinerary Update: Istanbul, Turkey

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the bombing attack at Atatürk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey.

After reviewing all of the available information and along with discussions with our Global Security team in Miami, we have decided to cancel all of Celebrity Cruises’ upcoming turns in Istanbul, Turkey, and replace them with Athens (Piraeus), Greece.

Affected Celebrity Cruises’ sailings are as follows:

  • Celebrity Equinox: 9 July 2016, 16 July 2016, 25 August 2016 and 7 September 2016
  • Celebrity Constellation: 10 October 2016, 21 October 2016, 2 November 2016 and 14 November 2016

We sincerely apologise for the impact on our guests’ holidays. We did not take this decision lightly, however the safety of our guests and crew is always of the highest importance.

Guest and travel partner communication regarding the changes is our first priority and is in the process of being delivered.

We will be urging all guests to contact their travel agent or travel partner to seek further information in regards to making amends to their travel arrangements; unfortunately Celebrity Cruises is unable to discuss a booking with any guest directly if they booked via a travel agent.

Guests who booked via Celebrity Cruises directly will receive a letter that provides more information, and ask that these guests contact their air travel partner to make alternative arrangements for travel to or from Athens instead of Istanbul. They can also call Celebrity Cruises with any further queries on 1800 754 500.

 

BEYOND Travel

BEYOND Travel general manager of sales and marketing, Bryce Crampton, has confirmed the company has accounted for all its clients in Turkey during this devastating time for those in the country’s main arrival point.

The company would like to assure agents and their clients that they are committed to  ensuring all  traveller needs to re-schedule or cancel arrangements in Turkey will be met without any regular charges or fees for alterations required.

He added, “We are personally contacting individual agents with clients travelling to Turkey in the immediate future and will deliver prompt and efficient service to those affected.  The safety of our customers is paramount and our aim is to make this time as seamless as possible for those whose travel plans have to change due to these extremely unfortunate events”.

Mr Crampton expressed his sympathies to those most affected by this tragedy and on behalf of the entire Beyond Travel family, wishes to convey deepest condolences to the people of Istanbul and Turkey.

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