Popular Med holiday destination extends Brit ban until February due to Omicron

MOROCCO has extended their travel ban until February, due to the continued rise in cases.

The country announced that flights to and from the UK were banned back in October due to Covid.

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The National Office of Airports (ONDA) has since confirmed that the “suspension of all passenger flights to and from Morocco will be extended until January 31, 2022”.

This is another blow to Brits, after easyJet, BA and Rynair cancelled flights due to the new travel rules.

Ryanair cancelled all flights to and from Morocco until February 1 next year due to “a lack of clarity” from the country.

Ryanair’s Director of Commercial Jason McGuinness said: “We deeply regret this disruption to our passengers from these cancelled Morocco flights until February 1, 2022, due to a lack of clarity from the Moroccan authorities on what to expect beyond their initial travel ban ruling to December 13.

“Ryanair regrets the unnecessary disruption caused and apologises to all of our passengers for this outcome, which is entirely beyond our control.”

British Airways confirmed that Brits will be given full refunds or vouchers, with the airline due to start flights to Marrakech this week.

Back in October, local airline Royal Air Maroc wrote: “According to the decision of the competent authorities, and due to the development of the epidemiological situation, flights to/from Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have been suspended, starting today, October 20, at 11:59pm.”

The Foreign Office has since updated their warning: “The Moroccan Government has announced the suspension for an unspecified period of direct flights between Morocco and the UK (and Germany and The Netherlands) with effect from midnight 20 October.

“Travellers affected by flight cancellations should contact their airline or tour operator for advice on alternative routes via third countries (eg France, Spain) where flights are operating as normal.”

Other countries have since issued their own travel restrictions due to the new Covid strain.

Both France and Germany have banned UK arrivals, only allowing people in with exceptional reasons – scuppering any Christmas market and ski holiday plans.

Austria is enforcing a mandatory quarantine on Brits unless they have had their booster.

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