Aurinkomatkat has received criticism from Finnish tourists on Rhodes for its communication in an evacuation situation. According to the company’s information, there may be disturbances in the island’s telephone network.
Finnish travel agencies are currently monitoring the wildfires raging in Ródos, Greece. For example, Aurinkomatkat announces that it has canceled all flights to the evacuated Lindos until the end of August.
Flights to other Rhodes destinations will continue to be implemented as planned, says the communications manager of Finnair, which owns Aurinkomatkat Mari Kanerva.
– The plane size of tomorrow’s flight has been slightly increased in order to bring more customers back to Finland, says Kanerva.
In addition, those who were going to Ródos this week have been offered the right to change their reservation free of charge.
A family from Vantaa interviewed by criticized Aurinkomatkat’s communication. The family evacuated from Kiotar last weekend said they received outdated information from Aurinkomatkat’s info line, which did not say anything about the evacuation of Kiotar.
Aurinkomatkat strives to cooperate with the authorities and convey information to customers, says Kanerva.
– According to the information we have received, there have been disturbances in the Ródos telephone network, so not all messages have necessarily reached their destination.
120 customers of Aurinkomatki have been evacuated from the Lindos area. Most of them were returned to Finland on Sunday in accordance with the goals, says Kanerva.
– The remaining 30 or so evacuees will be brought in today and tomorrow.
Tui Finland has canceled all flights to Rhodes for the time being
According to information updated on Tjäreborg’s website on Sunday evening, flights for evacuees to Lardos, Lindos and Kiotari have been canceled until July 30. Passengers are not taken to Peskos either, says Tjäreborg’s country manager Jessica Vahtera.
– Flights to Ródos on Wednesdays and Sundays are flown as usual, he says.
– About 40 of our customers came back to Finland yesterday. Five people will continue their vacation in Ródos, accommodation has been arranged for them on behalf of Tjäreborg.
Tui Finland announces that it has temporarily canceled all flights to Rhodes until Tuesday. No new decisions have been made regarding cancellations yet, says Tui Finland’s communications manager Laura Aaltonen.
– The return flights take place normally, i.e. the planes fly there empty. The decision to cancel the flights was made yesterday, one plane managed to leave for Ródos and returned on Sunday evening, says Aaltonen.
According to the schedule, the following flights should leave on Saturday and Sunday. Regarding these, the situation is being monitored. Aaltonen urges Finns on Rhodes to follow the instructions of the staff and authorities.