The Middle East crisis, now in its 11th week, has led to higher fuel prices and concerns over jet fuel shortages, with travellers fearing rising air fares and flight cancellations. As a result, some Britons are changing their holiday plans, opting for rail and overland routes instead.
Raffaele Brancati, 77, from Wiltshire, said he and his wife Linda, 78, had delayed booking a trip to Italy or Sicily because of the geopolitical situation. “There is too much risk that flights will be subject to change or cancellations,” he said. The couple may now consider a break in the UK or travelling by Eurostar.
Danie Jones, a senior administrator from East Anglia, decided to take the train to Rotterdam and Munich instead of driving, after worrying about fuel shortages in France and the rising cost of fuel. She and her husband have also cancelled a planned trip to Gdańsk in August owing to the risk of disruption, but she said the change had opened up new options: “It’s giving us a wonderful new experience doing long-distance train travel in Europe.”
Phil and Alison Cantor, from rural north Essex, booked a non-refundable Norwegian cruise holiday, including a three-day train journey through Flåm to Bergen. Fearing flight cancellations due to jet fuel shortages, they arranged an alternative overland route via Eurostar, an overnight coach and a ferry through Denmark. Their insurer confirmed they would not be covered, as disruption would be classed as an “indirect act of war”.
Mr Cantor said their “panicky fear has transformed into an anticipated added journey of discovery”, calling it their “race across the world”. He added: “There are far worse things going on than holidays being disrupted.”
