Dubai fam trip group returns to UK

A group of agents who were in Dubai at the time of the launch of US-Israel military attacks on Iran at the weekend have boarded a return flight to the UK.

The agents are due to arrive at Manchester airport around lunchtime on Tuesday – the same day they were originally due to come home prior to the air strikes and retaliatory strikes from Iran.

The group, who were travelling on a Gold Medal fam, included two former Travel Weekly Cover Stars winners: Louise Griggs, who runs The Holiday Therapist as a Personal Holiday Advisor for Constant Travel, and Idle Travel consultant Kieran Marshall.

Marshall told Aspire’s sister titleTravel Weekly: “We are currently on a flight back to Manchester. We were notified by the tour operator that Emirates was operating a very limited programme of flights back to the UK and seats were secured for us.”

He added: "I can’t wait to get back but the operator has been brilliant throughout."

Idle Travel director Tony Mann, who had earlier praised members of the trade and customers for their support, said the update was "amazing news".

He added: "We will all be relieved to hear from him when he’s landed. I kept checking my phone for updates as I couldn’t sleep properly so when he messaged at around three this morning to say he’d boarded I was still awake.”

Griggs had earlier praised the care given to the group but said “we are all on edge and anxious”.

She added: “We are making sure no one is alone until bedtime. The hotel and all staff have been brilliant at extending our stays. The tour operator is covering all our food costs and constantly checking in and we are being told we are a priority once airspace opens.

“We are all slightly scared to fly but just want to go home.”