Flights To Turkey Cancelled After Coup

Flights to and from Turkey have been cancelled and Britons in the country have been advised to "stay indoors".

The move follows an attempted coup which saw gunfire and explosions in Ankara and Istanbul and reports of shooting near the tourist resort of Marmaris.

Almost 200 people including soldiers, police and civilians have been killed in the violence.

British Airways has cancelled all flights to and from Turkey.

However, Turkish Airlines said its operations at Istanbul Ataturk Airport are back to normal and flights there are resuming.

A British Airways spokeswoman said: "In light of the events unfolding in Turkey,all flights have been cancelled today.

"We are keeping flights to Turkey under review. The safety and security of our customers and colleagues remains our top priority at all times.

"For the latest flight details please refer to ba.com."

Customers affected by the cancellations are being offered the choice of rebooking or a refund.

Despite the unrest an easyJet spokeswoman said the airline did not expect any changes to its schedule as it does not fly to Istanbul and Ankara.

EasyJet flies from the UK to Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman and Ismir in Turkey and has 24 flights to and from Turkey scheduled on July 16," she said.

"Current advice from the British authorities is to continue our flying programme. This will be kept under continuous review."

Advice on the Foreign Office website said: "The situation now appears quieter in Istanbul, and the bridges across the Bosphorus are reopening. But there are reports of tank fire and small arms fire in Ankara.

"Some flights to airports in Turkey are being diverted or cancelled. The road between Marmaris and Icmeler remains closed, following earlier reports of gunfire between the resorts of Marmaris and Icmeler.

"We strongly advise you to stay indoors, avoid public places, in particular demonstrations, and remain vigilant."

People due to travel to or from Turkey over the next few days are advised to closely monitor travel advice and check with airlines or tour operators before setting out.

Thomas Cook echoed the Foreign Office as it urged customers to "stay in their hotels until further notice".

"We note the reports coming out of Turkey regarding a military coup. There is no indication that guests in the coastal resorts are affected," a spokeswoman said.