UK charters flights to help British nationals leave Jamaica following the impact of Hurricane Melissa
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-30)

The UK is preparing flights to bolster commercial capacity and transport British nationals out of Jamaica

- The UK is preparing flights to bolster commercial capacity and transport British nationals out of Jamaica
- The UK government will launch a flight registration form for British nationals to register their details and interest in flights
- Follows announcement that the UK has deployed emergency hurricane relief to the Caribbean
The UK is in close contact with travel companies who are working to restore flights for holidaymakers and British nationals. In addition, the FCDO has chartered a limited number of flights from Jamaica for British nationals who are unable to fly home commercially, following the impact of Hurricane Melissa on the island.

All British nationals who have already registered via the Register Your Presence portal will automatically be contacted and provided with a link to the booking portal once airports are open. If you are a British national in Jamaica wanting to leave on a flight and have not already registered your presence (https://www.register.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/jamaica-20251028/tell-the-uk-government-youre-in-jamaica), you should do so immediately.

Travellers should contact their airline or travel provider in the first instance to see if commercial options are available, and if they have already booked a flight home to confirm if it is still operating.

British nationals plus their immediate family members (partner or spouse and children under 18) travelling with them are eligible. All passengers must hold a valid travel document. Non-British immediate family members will require valid permission to enter or remain that was granted for more than six months.

Windrush generations with indefinite leave to remain in the UK are also eligible and should urgently contact the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on xx-xxxx-xxxx or xx-xxxx-xxxx to be sent the flight registration form.

We will prioritise those who are most vulnerable, for example those with medical needs and children, in allocating seats on the flight. The cost of a seat will be based on standard commercial rates.

The FCDO will contact those who are allocated a seat on the flight directly and British Nationals should not make their way to the airport unless they are contacted.

Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper said:

“The strong links between the UK and Jamaica mean many British nationals were there during the devastation of the hurricane, and we need to ensure they can get safely home, as we know how worrying and difficult the last few days will have been.

“The UK government is chartering flights to bolster commercial capacity and ensure people who wish to return to the UK can do so as soon as possible.”

Two specialist Rapid Deployment Teams are travelling to Jamaica to facilitate the charter flights and provide consular assistance to British nationals.

Meanwhile, the UK Government announced it is mobilising £2.5 million in emergency humanitarian funding to support the Caribbean region’s recovery from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

The UK is working with the Jamaican authorities and its international partners, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and UN agencies, to ensure humanitarian assistance is delivered to affected areas and meets the immediate needs of the most vulnerable.

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