Airline Jet2.com is facing an angry backlash from passengers over its sudden decision to cancel its flights to and from Egypt from next month.

Steve and Jenny Tonks, of Guiseley, said they were furious at being told the carrier would still fly them out to Egypt on February 25 but they would have to make their own arrangements to get back.

The Leeds-Bradford International Airport-based airline revealed earlier this week that it would be suspending services to the resorts of Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada from March 1 because of the political unrest.

Jacqui Chorley, 66, a retired nurse, also of Guiseley, should have been enjoying a month-long winter break with her partner Peter O’Reilly at the four-star Oriental Resort Hotel in Nabq Bay, Sharm el Sheikh after flying out with Jet2.com last Friday.

But now she fears she will have to cut her holiday short or be stranded.

Speaking from Egypt, she said: “When I came out from Leeds-Bradford Airport last Friday there were lots of empty seats. I suspect it is the empty seats they are worried about rather than my welfare.

“I feel completely safe here. Out in the streets and down on the beaches all is calm, so why are Jet2 contradicting the British Government and trying to cut my holiday short? I’m furious.” Mr O’Reilly, 67, of Somerset, said: “Thomson are still flying people out here and, as of yesterday, the Foreign Office website was advising against travel to Cairo but the Red Sea was still considered safe.

“Hardly had a lady representing the Foreign Office left the hotel after assuring us Sharm was safe when Jet2 dropped this bombshell.”

However, a Jet2.com spokesman said the majority of its passengers had been relieved by its firm stance on Egypt.

“The situation there is still uncertain and we wanted to give passengers reasonable notice to re-book their holidays elsewhere. However, we appreciate that our decision to suspend this route from March 1 may inconvenience those people needing to fly within the next couple of weeks,” said the spokesman.

“As such, we are continuing to fly until the end of the month but we hope that passengers will appreciate that once the route ceases there won’t be the opportunity to return on a Jet2.com flight.

“We have therefore suggested two options: full refunds for those that do not wish to fly at all, allowing them to re-book and refunds for the return journey for those still needing to fly out to Egypt before March 1.”

But Mr Tonks said if it had not been for his brother reading the Telegraph & Argus story about Jet2.com’s decision to cancel its Egypt services he would have been none-the-wiser and would have still turned up with his wife and two friends for their flight out.

He said it was only when he went to speak to Jet2.com staff at the Yeadon airport yesterday that he was told the full situation.

Mr Tonks said: “No-one would come down from the office to speak to me, it was just a poor girl acting as go-between on the phone. They told me I could still go out but I’d have to make my own way back. I couldn’t believe it.

“There’s nothing telling passengers about this on their website. In fact you can still book Friday flights out there, right up until February 25. It’s ridiculous.”

A Jet2.com spokesman said Mr Tonks had booked his flights through an agency so it was the agency that should have contacted him. “We have checked with that agency and they have now spoken to him. We’ve been in touch with all the customers who booked with us and that is why there is nothing mentioned on our website about cancellations – but that might change.”

Mr Tonks has now accepted a full refund on both flights and booked another holiday still in Egypt with a different company.