Thomson cancels all flights to terror-hit Tunisia until November

Package holidays to the north African country have been axed since 30 Britons – including three members of a Black Country family – were killed by an Islamic State gunman in June last year.

But, as revealed by the Express & Star, tour companies have been advertising and selling holidays to the Sousse resort, where the attack happened, despite the government advising against all travel to the country.

The move was described as 'irresponsible' by Suzy Richards from Wednesbury whose son Joel, brother Adrian and father Patrick were killed in the attack.

Comfirming the cancellations, a Thomson spokesman said: "As the Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to advise against all but essential travel to Tunisia, Thomson Airways can confirm the cancellation of further outbound flights from the UK to Tunisia, up to and including Monday, October 31, 2016.

"Customers affected by this will be able to change their holiday to any of our destinations currently on sale, without incurring an amendment fee, or receive a full refund.

"If the new holiday departs on or before October 31, we are also offering a £30 per person discount, regardless of whether the alternative holiday is cheaper or more expensive – providing the new holiday is booked by Monday, February 29, 2016."

Large discounts of up to 40 per cent had been offered on the holidays.

The country is currently in a state of emergency.

Thomas Cook is now expected to follow suit and extend the cancellations of its bookings to Tunisia.

Joel, aged 19, from Wednesbury, was the youngest killed. He died alongside his uncle Adrian Evans, 49, who worked at Sandwell Council, from Bilston, and his 78-year-old father Pat Evans. Joel's younger brother Owen, 16, was also on the holiday with the fellow Walsall FC fans and survived.

Also among the dead was Sue Davey, 44, who is originally from West Bromwich but later moved to Tamworth.

Earlier in the year, former Black Country solicitor Sally Adey who lived near Albrighton, was killed in the Islamic State attack at the Bardo Museum in the Tunisian capital Tunis.

Earlier this month, Mrs Richards said: "I think any UK tour operators choosing not to listen to Foreign Office advice are being very irresponsible.

"Attacks are still taking place in Tunisia and it is currently still declared as a State of Emergency.

"Customer safety should be the priority for the tour operators, that's the most important thing.

"I think it's too soon to make a decision about this and anybody that decides they want to go back to Tunisia needs to think again - and think about what happened to me.

"If the tour operators are choosing not to listen and going against the advice that is being given then they are not putting customer safety first."