Press release

Charter flight from Guyana for stranded British nationals

A Government charter flight to bring home around 100 Britons stranded in Guyana has been announced - with booking open today.

Foreign Office sign

The flight will depart from Georgetown Cheddi Jagan International Airport for London Gatwick on 7 May. It will come via Buenos Aires, with around 200 British nationals already on board, returning from Argentina.

British travellers in Guyana should visit FCO Travel Advice page for further information on how to register. Priority is initially being given to vulnerable passengers - those over 70 and others who have medical requirements.

Once this flight is completed the number of British travellers who have returned from South America on Government charter flights will be to over 3,000.

Minister for the Caribbean, Baroness Sugg said:

This is our latest flight from South America and the Caribbean, with around 300 more British travellers being able to get back to the UK to be with their families Our staff will continue to support those Britons who remain in Guyana and Argentina throughout this crisis.

Greg Quinn, High Commissioner to Guyana, said:

Providing support to British travellers who are in Guyana and want to return home is our number one priority. I encourage all those with an interest to register now as it is unlikely that there will be any further charter flights. I’d also like to thank the Guyanese authorities and Air Europa for helping to make this happen.

The UK Government is working with the airline industry and host governments across the world to bring back British travellers to the UK as part of the plan announced by the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (30 March) - with up to £75 million available for special charter flights to priority countries, focused on helping the most vulnerable travellers.

Background information

  1. The charter flights are for UK travellers who normally reside in the UK and their direct dependents. A number of seats will be reserved for those deemed vulnerable.

  2. To book flights and register their details, British nationals should check the FCO Travel Advice pages

  • movement within Guyana is currently very restricted due to a 6pm to 6am national curfew. The British High Commission will contact those who have confirmed seats on the flight with further details regarding transport

  • those who are eligible to fly will be sent information on getting to airports and flight itineraries directly when their seat is confirmed

  • details regarding luggage allowance, flight costs and carriers will be available on the booking portal.

The British High Commission continues to provide consular support to any British nationals who remain in Guyana.

These UK Government chartered flights follow flights from Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador and Peru, meaning we will have brought back over 2500 British travellers from South America and helped hundreds more return through commercial routes.

Further information

Media enquiries

For journalists

Published 29 April 2020