Low cost carrier Jet2 has drawn fire over its decision to cancel all summer flights to Tunisia.

Whilst several airlines have cancelled flights as the small African nation has broken out into political chaos and instability, Jet2 said in a statement last week that it was cancelling all of its Tunisian routes all the way through the summer. The airline currently operates routes between Tunisia and Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester and Glasgow, all of which will be affected by the move.

The Leeds-based budget airline said it has begun the process of contacting passengers and making alternative travel or refund arrangements. Jet2 as well as its holiday branch, Jet2holidays, have issued an official apology about the cancellations, adding that it has been completely outside of their control.

Jet2’s cancellation comes after the FCO issued a warning that all non-essential travel to Tunisia should be avoided. The news comes as some reports have described the country as being on the brink of civil war, however others say that conditions have improved since top Tunisian politician Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was driven out of the country on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, both Thomson and Thomas Cook have retrieved thousands of UK holidaymakers from Tunisia and have cancelled any further flights to the country through the 23rd of January.