FAMILIES currently on holiday are being warned to fly home now as airlines cancel flights due to the lockdown.
The new UK lockdown – which could last until March – prohibits any non-essential travel which includes travelling abroad.
In response, airlines and tour operators are stopping flights, with many suspending services until at least next month.
TUI has cancelled all holidays until flights up until mid-February, with Wales and Scotland departures cancelled until January 31.
Jet2 has suspended holidays and flights until February 11, while Thomas Cook has suspended holidays until next month, along with Virgin.
EasyJet will operate flights until January 10, which will be primarily repatriation flights, but will then massively reduce flight options after this.
An easyJet spokesperson told the Telegraph: "We urge customers needing to return to transfer onto these flights as soon as possible as options to travel after this date will be reduced."
Ryanair has warned that they will "significantly" cut flights from January 21, and will operate "few, if any" flights from the end of January.
With flight services being cancelled or massively reduced, Brits may find themselves struggling to find a flight home.
Holidaymakers currently abroad are urged to get in contact with their airline or tour operator regarding their return flight to the UK.
The warning follows a number of celebs and influencers being accused of flouting lockdown rules by heading abroad.
Dubai and The Maldives have attracted Love Island stars Molly Mae and Maura Higgins, among others.
Before the lockdown, anyone in tier 4 was banned from heading abroad, which included areas such as London and Kent.
As part of the new restrictions, all international holidays have been banned for everyone in England, with only essential travel allowed.
If you do need to travel overseas, you can only do so with a legally permitted reason, like for work.
Anyone who breaks the rules on travel could be hit with a £200 fine in the first instance. That doubles for further offences, up to a maximum of £6,400.
Here is how to get a refund if your flights are cancelled.
Last March, when the first lockdown was announced, more than one million Brits were stranded abroad.
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