Airlines given millions of pounds to get stranded Brits abroad home

The Government will work with commercial airlines to help stranded Britons get home, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has announced.

The Foreign Office has set aside £75 million to charter flights to get those stuck abroad home from areas where commercial routes are no longer running.

In areas where commercial flights can still run, the Government will work with airlines to get people home.

Airlines given millions of pounds to get stranded Brits abroad home

Speaking at the daily Downing Street press conference, Mr Raab said: "I can today announce a new arrangement between the Government and airlines to fly home tens of thousands of stranded British travellers, where commercial flights are no longer possible."

He added: "Under the arrangements that we are putting in place we will target flights from a range of priority countries, starting this week."

Virgin, easyJet, Jet2 and Titan Airways signed a memorandum of understanding negotiated by the Foreign Secretary and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on Monday.

British Airways has said they will work with Government to get people home and other airlines are expected to join.