NEWS


UP FOR THE CUP: Reuben’s Retreat founder Nicola Graham joined supporters at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday for the MSC Cup 2026 as the travel industry raised funds for the Derbyshire charity. The seven-a-side football tournament was won by White Hart Associates (WHA) after they defeated The Travel Network Group in the final, with Chelsea FC legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink among those watching on. Each squad was allowed up to 10 players, including at least two women. Reuben’s Retreat will put the money towards four accommodation ‘suites’ for bereaved families or those with children with complex medical needs. From left: Robertina Tompa, Mail Metro Media; Graham; Amelia Jennings and Darcy O’Brien, both WHA; Julie Pinkney and Stephanie Slark, both The Travel Network Group; Kirsten Fox, Iglu; and Helen Hays, Hays Travel.


Operators voice frustration over FCDO stance on transit via Gulf


Ian Taylor


Tour operators and agents are growing frustrated with UK Foreign Office (FCDO) advice against all but essential travel to the UAE which rules out package holidaymakers from transiting via the Gulf because of the crisis in the region. It has led some operators


to ask customers prepared to fly via the Gulf to sign disclaimers, despite lawyers warning operators can’t waive liability under the Package Travel Regulations (PTRs) and would face significant uninsured risks. Advantage Travel Partnership


“People can book their own


holiday to the UAE but if it’s a package they can’t go. “It makes a mockery of the


whole thing and puts the package market at a clear disadvantage.” She noted consumers can


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purchase travel insurance in the UAE and said: “Safety comes first. But clearly something is not right when tens of thousands of Brits are travelling to the UAE.” Association of Atol


Companies legal advisor Alan Bowen reported: “Some


chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said described the FCDO advice as “really frustrating”, saying: “The advice is clear if you’re in the package market. But there is no word on transit flights. We have flights departing for the UAE every day and these flights are full.


travelweekly.co.uk


operators are taking the view they’re not operating via the Gulf in any circumstances. Others are asking people to sign a waiver.” But he warned: “You can’t waive


liability under the PTRs. These operators need to be aware their public liability insurance won’t cover them because of the FCDO advice.” Bowen estimated 20% to 30%


of operators offering holidays via the UAE may be doing this. Blue Bay Travel is offering


customers booked to travel via the UAE the option of cancelling with a full refund, rebooking with a more expensive direct flight, or – if they wish to travel on the original booking – signing a disclaimer. Chief executive Alistair Rowland


said: “We give customers the option to cancel, rebook or travel. We’re not promoting it [transit via the Gulf], they need adequate transit insurance and we give them time to think about it.” He said “probably one-third”


of customers are opting to sign a disclaimer. Rowland added “we’re not


unique” and said: “The FCDO has got to move.” Industry lawyer Farina Azam,


partner at Fox Williams, warned: “An organiser can’t contract out of its obligations under the PTRs or ask customers to contract


out of their PTR rights. The organiser’s liability insurance may not cover it for customers travelling against FCDO advice.” The German foreign office


changed its UAE travel advisory earlier this month from advising against all but essential travel to stating travel is “strongly discouraged”. It warns “the security situation remains highly volatile”, but this has not stopped German operators resuming operations via the Gulf. Abta director for industry affairs


Susan Deer said: “We’re in regular contact with the FCDO and have made it aware of the change to German advice. The FCDO keeps its travel advice under regular review. [But] it will have uppermost in its decisions its assessment of the risk to British travellers.” Deer told this month’s Abta


Travel Law Seminar: “There is no indication of a change to FCDO advice in the immediate future.”


28 MAY 2026 5


PICTURE: Lucy Huxley


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