- The UK is preparing flights to bolster
commercial capacity and transport British nationals out
of Jamaica
- The UK government will launch a flight registration
form for British nationals to register their details and interest
in flights
- Follows announcement that the UK has deployed emergency
hurricane relief to the Caribbean
The UK is in close contact with travel companies who are working
to restore flights for holidaymakers and British nationals. In
addition, the FCDO has chartered a limited number of flights from
Jamaica for British nationals who are unable to fly home
commercially, following the impact of Hurricane Melissa on
the island.
All British nationals who have already registered via the
Register Your Presence portal will automatically be contacted and
provided with a link to the booking portal once airports are
open. If you are a British national in Jamaica wanting to
leave on a flight and have not already registered your presence,
you should do so immediately.
Travellers should contact their airline or travel provider in the
first instance to see if commercial options are available, and if
they have already booked a flight home to confirm if it is still
operating.
British nationals plus their immediate family members (partner or
spouse and children under 18) travelling with them are eligible.
All passengers must hold a valid travel document. Non-British
immediate family members will require valid permission to enter
or remain that was granted for more than six months.
Windrush generations with indefinite leave to remain in the
UK are also eligible and should urgently contact the
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on +1 (876) 936
0700 or +44 (0)20 7008 5000 to be sent the flight registration
form.
We will prioritise those who are most vulnerable, for example
those with medical needs and children,
in allocating seats on the flight. The cost of a
seat will be based on standard commercial rates.
The FCDO will contact those who are allocated a seat on
the flight directly and British Nationals should not make their
way to the airport unless they are contacted.
Foreign Secretary, said:
"The strong links between the UK and Jamaica mean many
British nationals were there during the devastation of the
hurricane, and we need to ensure they can get safely home, as we
know how worrying and difficult the last few days will have
been.
“The UK government is chartering flights to bolster
commercial capacity and ensure people who wish to return to the
UK can do so as soon as possible.”
Two specialist Rapid Deployment Teams are travelling to Jamaica
to facilitate the charter flights and provide
consular assistance to British nationals.
Meanwhile, the UK Government announced it is mobilising £2.5
million in emergency humanitarian funding to support the
Caribbean region's recovery from the devastation caused by
Hurricane Melissa.
The UK is working with the Jamaican authorities and its
international partners, including the Caribbean Disaster
Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and UN agencies,
to ensure humanitarian assistance is delivered to affected areas
and meets the immediate needs of the most vulnerable.
Notes to Editors
