Flight

Jet2 has announced a change to their flights between July and September following high demand from holidaymakers

Jet2 has unveiled a significant change to its schedule ahead of the busy summer getaway period. The budget airline is boosting its flight schedule during July, August and September.

The airline opted to implement this change after experiencing substantial demand from travellers. Jet2 will now provide additional flights to Greece departing from Birmingham Airport this summer.

The company has added extra capacity to Crete and Santorini throughout July to September this year. This development establishes Jet2 as the largest Greek operator from the Midlands airport.

The sun-soaked Greek isles are experiencing tremendous appeal amongst British holidaymakers. Jet2 states its move will grant Brits “even more choice and flexibility” when travelling to the popular destination.

They operate services to 15 Greek locations from Birmingham Airport. These encompass Athens, Corfu, Crete (Chania), Crete (Heraklion), Kalamata, Kefalonia, Kos, Lesvos (Mytilene), Preveza, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos, Thessaloniki (Halkidiki) and Zante, reports the Express.

This means Jet2 is now providing more than 2.5million seats from Birmingham Airport this summer spanning 62 routes.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, commented: “Greece is an enormously popular destination, and it continues to appeal to customers and independent travel agents looking to enjoy some much-needed sunshine.

“As the UK’s favourite airline and tour operator, we know just how much holidaymakers love these Greek destinations, and we are delighted to be once again stepping in to meet demand.

“We have an unrivalled programme on sale to Greece for Summer 26 from Birmingham Airport and are now expanding that to give customers and independent travel agents even more choice and flexibility with the addition of extra flights to Crete (Chania) and Santorini.”

Jet2’s additional summer routes

Crete (Chania) – There will be additional weekly Wednesday services from Birmingham Airport from July 1 to September 23.

Santorini – There will be additional Thursday services from July 2 to September 24.

Celebrations as flight carries dozens of passengers from Port Sudan to Sudanese capital.

The international airport in Khartoum has received its first scheduled commercial flight in more than two years as the Sudanese government continues to assert its control over Sudan’s capital city after years of fighting.

The Sudan Airways flight travelled to Khartoum from the Red Sea city of Port Sudan on Sunday, carrying dozens of passengers.

Reporting from near the runway where the flight had landed, Al Jazeera’s Taher Almardi described scenes of jubilation following the arrival of the plane.

He said the reopening of the airport will help connect the capital to other regions in Sudan, with officials saying the facility is now ready to welcome as many as four flights daily.

Sudan Airways said in a statement that the flight, which was announced on Saturday with ticket prices starting at $50, “reflects the return of spirit and the continuation of the connection between the sons of the nation”.

The Sudanese military announced regaining full control of the capital from its rival, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, in March of last year.

Last month, Sudan’s army-aligned authorities moved the government’s headquarters back to Khartoum from their wartime capital of Port Sudan, which has also housed the country’s international airport since the early days of the war that began in April 2023.

Khartoum International Airport has come under repeated attacks, including an RSF drone assault in October that Sudanese officials said was intercepted.

On October 22, the airport said it had received a Badr Airlines flight, which was not pre-announced. But no further operations of commercial flights resumed until Sunday.

The war started as two top generals – Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the military, and Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, the RSF chief – and their forces clashed for power and control over Sudan’s resources.

The fighting has ravaged towns and cities across Sudan, killing tens of thousands of people and forcing millions of others from their homes.

Violence continues to rage in central and western Sudan, particularly in Darfur, where the war has led to mass displacement and a humanitarian crisis.

“In Darfur today, reaching a single child can take days of negotiation, security clearances, and travel across sand roads under shifting frontlines,” Eva Hinds, spokesperson for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said in a statement on Friday.

“Nothing about this crisis is simple: every movement is hard-won, every delivery fragile.”

A sun-drenched island in the Ionian Sea that boasts “sugar-white beaches” and “turquoise waters” could be accessible for as little as £23 and has beers for just £1.75

A Greek “delight” that draws comparisons to the sun-kissed Caribbean could be accessible for as little as £23, with beers for just £1.75. A snorkelling hotspot with lush forests, mountains, vineyards, and coves, the Ionian island of Kefalonia has reportedly gained in popularity and boasts “sugar-white beaches” and “turquoise waters”.

Indeed, the sun-drenched island lies between the popular destinations of Lefkada and Zakynthos and offers curious visitors spectacular scenery, along with the much-loved Mediterranean climate.

If you choose to travel during certain months, you could also find some tranquillity. According to Metro’s Charlie Sawyer, April and May tend to be less crowded, and by late April, temperatures can reach up to 20°C.

Charlie wrote: “The cost of flying to Kefalonia depends on how flexible you are, but there are several deals available. For example, flying with easyJet from London Gatwick on Thursday, April 9, for a week-long trip, would right now set you back £88.

“Or if you’re happy to ditch a checked bag and seat reservation, you could fly easyJet out from any London airport one-way to Kefalonia on Wednesday, April 15, for just £23.

“Once you’ve arrived, grab a local beer, which will only set you back £1.75.”

Some of the local highlights include the capital, Argostolion; the brightly coloured village of Fiscardo; the Melissani and Drogarati caves; the picturesque village of Assos; and Ainos National Park.

Despite its many attributes, Kefalonia sees less than half the number of tourists that visit Santorini each year—755,929 international guests compared to Santorini’s 1,543,796, according to data from Fraport Greece.

It’s reportedly also loved by celebrities and royals, with famous visitors including The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three young children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

Last year, the Waleses were said to have spent time sailing around western Greece, stopping at a number of local destinations, but are believed to have enjoyed most of their time in Kefalonia.

Travel experts at Iglu Cruise said: “Kefalonia is a fantastic holiday destination, often regarded as a hidden gem of Greece. During the summer, you’ll find fewer crowds compared to popular islands such as Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, or Corfu, making it perfect for those looking to unwind and relax.”

Notably, the Nicolas Cage and Penélope Cruz film Captain Corelli’s Mandolin was filmed on the Ionian island, with other celebrities reported to have visited, including Demi Moore, Tom Hanks, and Madonna.

A popular area for yachting, another famous name linked to the island is Kylie Jenner (known from Keeping Up with the Kardashians), who, in July 2025, brought her family to Kefalonia on a superyacht while visiting islands around Greece.

A WOMAN was forced to miss her holiday after she was stopped from boarding an easyJet flight when they discovered an issue with her passport.

Donna Fairclough was due to fly out of Manchester Airport and was ‘heartbroken’ to miss out on an £820 holiday to Malta.

Donna Fairclough and her fiancé Gary Broadley were due to fly to Malta from Manchester Airport on January 3, 2026.

However, Donna was turned away from the flight by easyJet because of a sizeable tear in her passport.

The damage was across the photo page of her travel document and the size of the tear meant that she wasn’t allowed to board the flight.

Talking to Manchester Evening News, Donna said: “The rip was initially about a quarter-of-an-inch. I was excited to go away. It was heartbreaking because we lost out on a holiday because of a rip.

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“I said to my partner, you can still see my face and my passport number and it didn’t affect any of that. That’s what I couldn’t understand.”

As well as missing out on their holiday, the pair have claimed that easyJet won’t refund them for their break as the rip is classified as ‘accidental damage’.

Advice on the Gov.UK website reads: “If your passport is damaged you must replace it. You may not be able to travel with it. HM Passport Office will consider your passport damaged if […] any of the pages are ripped, cut or missing.”

HM Passport Office will also consider your passport damaged if you cannot read any of the details, the cover is coming away, or if there are stains on the page.

Donna has since got a new passport and has urged other holidaymakers to check theirs before travelling.

easyJet responded in a statement that the airline is “sorry” that Ms Fairclough was not able to go on her holiday and “understand how disappointing this must have been”.

The airline added it “works closely with the authorities and complies with their guidance to ensure the safety and security of customers and crew, and this means we can’t allow anyone to travel if their documentation is damaged.”

They then advised Donna on how she could get a new passport and have been in touch with further support.

It’s not just damage to passports that can halt passengers from boarding flights, issues with expiry dates have caught travellers out too.

Previous rules allowed British passport holders to roll over 10 months from their previous passports meaning they’d have validity of up to 10 years and 10 months.

But the current rules no longer see those additional 10 months as valid, even if they are on your passport.

So, if your passport was issued in June 2015, but your expiry date says September 2025, that expiry is actually incorrect.

Instead, your passport would have expired 10 years past the start date – making the real expiry is actually June 2025.

There’s also the three month rule – a number of countries require British holidaymakers to have a few additional months left on their passport to travel.

Most places in Europe require British travellers to have at least three months left on the passport before it expires.

Passport Rules

Everything you need to know about passports

Here’s another common passport mistake that is costing Brits £1.1million a year on holiday.

And another woman was left sobbing after easy passport mistake saw her BANNED from her flight.

THERE’S bad news for passengers flying with easyJet to Italy this weekend.

On Saturday, unions representing easyJet’s pilots and flight attendants have announced a strike due to to take place between 1pm and 5pm.

easyJet operates daily departures across Italy in destinations like Milan Malpensa, Naples, Venice and Rome Fiumicino. 

Currently, easyJet says that there is only one return flight scheduled to and from the UK within the strike period which is currently set to operate as planned.

Another nine intra-EU flights are also within the strike period, but there are also plans in place to operate.

easyJet also told Sun Travel: “We have contingency plans in place so our flying programme to and from Italy is currently scheduled to operate as planned tomorrow.

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“We will contact customers directly should their flight be affected.”

Naples Airport operator GESAC has warned of “possible delays and cancellations”, urging travellers to check the status of their flights.

The industrial action has been taken as a result of delays in talks over roster patterns, post-pandemic wage restoration and integration of the new Airbus A321neo aircraft.

A number of services could be grounded and the select time of the walkout is to maximise disruption. 

SkyRefund has advised that if your flight is cancelled, the airline must offer you a choice between a full refund or re-routing to your destination.

If the airline cannot fly you out quickly, they should book you onto a flight with an alternative carrier.

Commenting on passenger rights, Ivaylo Danailov, CEO of flight compensation specialists SkyRefund, said: “Passengers should be aware that while airlines often cite strikes as ‘extraordinary circumstances’, industrial action by an airline’s own employees, such as this walk-out by easyJet pilots and cabin crew, is generally considered within the carrier’s control under UK and Under EU 261/2004 regulations.

“Because this strike stems from internal disputes over wages and rosters, it does not typically meet the criteria for an ‘unforeseeable’ event.

“If your flight is cancelled or delayed by more than three hours, you aren’t just entitled to a seat on the next available flight; you are likely eligible for fixed financial compensation of up to £520 (€600) per person.”

Flight compensation rules

A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.

You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.

So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.

But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.

When am I not entitled to compensation?

The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.

Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.

Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?

If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.

Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.

Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.

Here’s more information on what to do if your flight is cancelled or delayed due to a mystery ‘tech glitch’.

And these are the circumstances where you won’t get any compensation for a cancelled flight.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday he has informed acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez that he’s going to be opening up all commercial airspace over Venezuela and Americans will soon be able to visit.

Trump said he instructed U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and U.S. military leaders to open up the airspace by the end of the day.

“American citizens will be very shortly able to go to Venezuela, and they’ll be safe there,” the Republican president said.

Venezuela’s government did not immediately comment on Trump’s announcement.

Earlier this week, Trump’s administration notified Congress that it was taking the first steps to possibly reopen the shuttered U.S. Embassy in Venezuela as it explores restoring relations with the South American country following the U.S. military raid that ousted then-President Nicolás Maduro.

In a notice to lawmakers dated Monday and obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday, the State Department said it was sending in a regular and growing contingent of temporary staffers to conduct “select” diplomatic functions.

“We are writing to notify the committee of the Department of State’s intent to implement a phased approach to potentially resume Embassy Caracas operations,” the department said in separate but identical letters to 10 House and Senate committees.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries collapsed in 2019, and the U.S. State Department warned Americans shouldn’t travel to Venezuela, raising its travel advisory to the highest level.

The State Department on Thursday still listed a travel advisory for Venezuela at its highest level, “Do not travel,” warning that Americans face a high risk of wrongful detention, torture, kidnapping and more.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a message Thursday inquiring about whether it was changing its warning.

In November, as Trump was ramping up pressure on Maduro, he declared that the airspace “above and surrounding” Venezuela should be considered as “closed in its entirety.”

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, which has jurisdiction generally over the U.S. and its territories, then told pilots to be cautious flying around the country because of heightened military activity.

After that FAA warning, international airlines began canceling flights to Venezuela because of heightened military activity.

American Airlines, which was the last U.S. airline flying to Venezuela when it suspended flights there in March 2019, announced Thursday that it intends to reinstate nonstop service there from the U.S. in the coming months.

“We have a more than 30-year history connecting Venezolanos to the U.S., and we are ready to renew that incredible relationship,” Nat Pieper, American’s chief commercial officer, said in a statement. “By restarting service to Venezuela, American will offer customers the opportunity to reunite with families and create new business and commerce with the United States.”

American said it would share additional details about the return to service in the coming months as it works with federal authorities on security assessments and necessary permissions.

Price writes for the Associated Press. AP reporters Matthew Lee in Washington and Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.

Passengers on a busy British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Jamaica divided opinion with their behaviour, which some described as “inconsiderate” and “rude”

Some British Airways passengers divided opinion online after footage emerged of them chanting and preaching during a flight.

Clips posted on social media show a woman standing in the aisle and singing while waving and shouting at fellow passengers until they join in and clap along during the journey from London Heathrow to Jamaica this month. Further footage captures a man loudly preaching while standing at his seat until staff announce the seat belt signs have been turned on and he sits back down.

Maxine Munroe, who was on the flight and shared a clip on TikTok, described her bizarre experience as “almost like being in church,” and fierce debate followed on the social media platform. Maxine, a 56-year-old nurse, said the antics early into the flight and continued for nearly three hours.

“It was almost like we were at church…. I think I was just surprised that this was happening 40,000ft in the air. At some point I was thinking we need to settle down and we need to rest. There were a lot of people (online) who say they don’t think they could cope on a flight like that,” Maxine, who is from Croydon, south London, said.

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Indeed, some online who blasted the behaviour, describing it as “inconsiderate” and “rude”. One Tiktoker posted: “I’d have found this so rude, they’re making a show of themselves and not thinking of others at all.” Another said: “As a nervous flyer this would send me over the edge.”

The clips show no obvious backlash from other passengers onboard the flight. Maxine, who regularly visits family in Jamaica, continued: “You will be on flights and people will pray before the flight takes off or if there’s turbulence you might hear somebody pray but not to that scale… It was fine while it lasted but it’s got its limit and I can understand when someone says that it is too much.

“I did think how long it would be until the crew had had enough. They need to be able to do their job and have the flight under control and it was a bit of an obstacle.

“A lot of people thought alcohol was related and actually there was no alcohol involved. It was more high on the godly spirit than they were on the alcohol, which is why I don’t think it affected the flight attendants as much as people drinking and being rowdy.”

British Airways has not faced direct criticism online following the emergence of the videos. Social media users were, though, angry at the passengers themselves for their decisions. One said: “Looks a nightmare.” Another stated: “It’s inconsiderate. I would’ve been so cross.”

But others were entertained and applauded the joyful tourists. One TikToker posted: “It was a lovely thing to see and f**k what anyone else says.” Another shared: “This would be the best flight. I like it when people are happy.” The Mirror has contacted British Airways for comment.

THERE’S nothing worse than seeing the word ‘cancelled’ appear whilst waiting for a flight.

If you live in fear of a flight being cancelled last minute these UK airports saw the highest cancellation rate of 2025 – and Southampton Airport was at the very top.

The regional airport in the south of England recorded the highest cancellation rate of all major UK airports last year, according to AirAdvisor.

AirAdvisor analysed Civil Aviation Authrity (AA) data across 20 of the busiest UK airports to figure out which is the least reliable.

For the second year in a row, Southampton Airport experienced the highest amount of flight cancellations.

The report found that three per cent of its flights were cancelled in 2025.

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Although, this is an improvement on 2024 when 3.3 per cent of services were grounded.

Data revealed that Southampton Airport had almost three times as many flight cancellations as the national average – which is 1.09 per cent.

A spokesperson for Southampton Airport told Sun Travel: “An airline’s decision to reluctantly cancel a flight can be due to a number of factors including weather issues, air traffic congestion, delayed arrivals or technical issues with aircraft.

“We will continue to work with our airline partners and their handling agents to support them in their operations.”

Airlines that operate out of Southampton Airport include Loganair, easyJet, KLM, Blue Islands and Aer Lingus.

These airlines fly to the likes of the Channel Islands, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, France and other UK cities like Manchester and Glasgow.

Just below Southampton Airport was Aberdeen Airport which had 1.6 per cent of its flights cancelled last year.

The UK’s busiest airport, London Heathrow also “exceeded the national average for cancellations” according to AirAdvisor.

Between January and November 2025, 1.4 per cent of flights at Heathrow were cancelled.

At the other end, Bournemouth Airport recorded the lowest cancellation rate of any major UK airport.

Between January and October 2026, it saw just 0.17 per cent of its scheduled services cancelled.

Other airports that performed well last year included Luton, Stansted, East Midlands International, Bristol and Belfast International, where cancellations were less than half the national average.

Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, said: “Air passengers in the UK can breathe a sigh of relief as we head into 2026, with most trend data suggesting that flight cancellation rates at British airports are decreasing.” 

For more on airports, this mega £27billion airport is set to open in 2032.

And a major UK airport introduces new liquid rules after £1billion upgrade.

The list of airports that reported the most and the least cancellations and delays…

These airports had the highest cancellation rates…

1. Southampton Airport
2. Aberdeen Airport
3. Glasgow Airport
4. London City Airport
5. Heathrow Airport

These airport had the fewest cancellations…

1. Bournemouth Airport
2. Luton Airport
3. Stansted Airport
4. Belfast International Airport
5. Bristol Airport

A flight attendant has shared the tell-tale signs that a passenger is a nightmare aboard the aircraft

The role of a flight attendant appears simple and glamorous – jetting off to exotic locations, while their main duty involves upholding health and safety standards and providing top-notch service. However, cabin crew frequently deal with entitled and discourteous passengers.

In an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, an anonymous British flight attendant revealed how certain passengers’ disruptive behaviour would disrupt operations and cause problems for staff. This specific type of traveller would be identified using a simple code word.

The cabin crew member explained: “There are a lot of things and icks from passengers that we can overlook, but if we say the word ‘precious’ it generally means that they’re acting like a ****.”

The “precious” passenger will be identified among the entire crew, which may affect the level of service that the individual receives.

However, the anonymous employee stressed that alternative codes might exist across different airlines that she’s never used with her colleagues.

For instance, speaking to The Sun, one flight attendant disclosed: “If you’re labelled a ‘Philip’ then you’ve done something wrong and should probably expect to get bad service for the rest of the flight.

“That name originated from the term PILP – Passenger I’d Like to Punch – but has changed over time to become slightly more subtle.”

Another discreet signal concerns crew members noticing an attractive passenger. The flight attendant, who boasts two years’ experience, disclosed: “This is an old one I’ve heard, but if we find you attractive, we would say ‘cheerio’ when you’re leaving instead of goodbye.

“Obviously, we have to be discreet and can not outwardly be like ‘hey, you’re hot’, but that’s a fun way to secretly flirt.”

The cabin crew member explains that countless codes exist chiefly for operational efficiency. While there are different ways to identify passengers for various reasons, staff will never refer to you by your real name.

She clarified: “If we are referring to passengers, we do not use your name; we use your seat number. So if someone wanted something, we wouldn’t say ‘Mary, sat in row 50, wants a coffee’. We would say, ’50 Delta, 50 Kilo or 50 Charlie’. We use seat numbers and the phonetic alphabet; it’s just easier.”

This shouldn’t spark any concern or intrigue, as cabin crew are simply working out how best to assist you without causing any commotion or gossip. However, do pay attention if you’re being branded a “precious Philip” – you might want to apologise for your behaviour.