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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ban on UK-Kenya charter flights | Ban on UK-Kenya charter flights |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| All UK charter flights to Kenya have been suspended up to and including next Monday, 14 January, the Federation of Tour Operators has said. | All UK charter flights to Kenya have been suspended up to and including next Monday, 14 January, the Federation of Tour Operators has said. |
| The suspension comes amid continuing Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel to the country. | The suspension comes amid continuing Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel to the country. |
| About 600 people have died in unrest which followed last month's disputed presidential election in the East african country. | About 600 people have died in unrest which followed last month's disputed presidential election in the East african country. |
| In addition to those killed, some 250,000 are feared displaced. | |
| The temporary ban will remain in place until at least next Tuesday. | |
| 'Flying out empty' | 'Flying out empty' |
| FTO spokesman Graham Lancaster said: "Planes will be flying out empty to bring back people who were due to finish their holidays over the next few days." | |
| A decision on charter flights due to fly to Kenya from the UK later next week will be made in the next few days, he said. | A decision on charter flights due to fly to Kenya from the UK later next week will be made in the next few days, he said. |
| British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways have continued to operate scheduled services between the UK and Kenya since the trouble erupted. | British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways have continued to operate scheduled services between the UK and Kenya since the trouble erupted. |
| But charter flights have not taken any passengers from the UK to Kenya for over a week. | But charter flights have not taken any passengers from the UK to Kenya for over a week. |
| Violence has mainly been confined to urban areas which British tourists tend to avoid, as most visit the big game parks or luxury Indian Ocean beach resorts. | |
| Lost tourism | |
| But they have to pass through Nairobi and Mombasa. | |
| There will soon be few Britons left holidaying in Kenya if the charter ban continues. | |
| It is estimated that Kenya, which depends on tourism, has lost up to £500 million during the turmoil. | |
| Jake Grieves-Cook, spokesman for the Kenya Tourism Federation, said the image of Kenya had changed from "giraffes, welcoming people and stability" to "the lunatic with a machete sharpening it on the road". | |
| UK tour operators are also suffering as they are having to refund some holidaymakers for whom no alternative destinations are found or desired. | |
| Talks conducted by Ghanaian President John Kufuor to end Kenya's political crisis have broken down, opposition and government sources have said. | |
| Mr Kufuor had been hoping to broker a deal between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga after the elections. |