The UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has urged Brits currently overseas to “return home now” amid the news that airports are starting to close “some without any notice”.

As governments begin to enforce lockdowns to protect their citizens the temporary suspension of commercial flights is leading to the closure of airports around the world.

Stating that the “the time to come home is now while you still can… and while there are still commercial routes to do so.” Raab also emphasised that where people could not get a commercial flight home the government would work “round the clock” to bring them back.

The UK’s Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also reiterated that, “This is a very difficult time for British citizens travelling overseas, or those with families and loved ones abroad.

“We’re in close contact with airlines, who are working tirelessly to ensure British citizens travelling overseas can safely return to the UK. We are also working closely with other government departments, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to ensure airlines are able to operate to bring people back home.”

Updated travel advice from the FCO tells all British tourists and short-stay travellers to return home as authorities have warned that further closures to air routes are likely to come in the next two days, and could see no notice given. A statement from FCO read: “Today’s update reflects the pace at which international travel is becoming more difficult with the closure of borders, airlines suspending flights, airports closing, exit bans and further restrictions being introduced daily.”

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