A 90-day state of emergency has been declared in the West African nation after its president Yahya Jammeh refused to step down following defeat in the country’s elections last month.

The FCO altered its travel advice to the country yesterday warning against “all travel” to capital Banjul and “against all but essential travel” to the rest of the country after reports of potential military intervention from neighbouring countries.

Thomas Cook said it expects to evacuate a total of 3,500 customers from the country by Friday.

The operator laid on four extra flights out of Banjul airport yesterday in addition to one planned departure.

It said an additional nine flights would be operated throughout today (January 19) and tomorrow in concurrence to two already planned services to help repatriate its remaining guests.

In a travel advice statement, Thomas Cook said: “Banjul airport has limited check-in and departure facilities compared with most UK airports and is operating with fewer local staff because of the situation.

“We would like to thank customers for their continued patience as our teams on the ground work to get everyone home as quickly as we can.

“Our reps in resort have been in constant contact with our package holiday customers in their hotels and our teams have been proactively contacting our flight-only passengers via email, phone and text to prepare for return to the UK.

“We have also set up a dedicated phone number for flight-only customers who are currently still in the Gambia and anyone there should call 0044 161 774 2966 as soon as possible to arrange their flight home.”

Meanwhile, Gambian specialist operator The Gambia Experience said it had arranged two Titan Airways flights to return 225 of its package holidaymakers and 109 flight-only customers.

The operator said guests had been flown back on a Thomas Cook flight to Gatwick last night and travellers originally booked to return to Birmingham and Manchester were being transported onward.

A Titan Airways flight left Banjul yesterday afternoon and was due to land at Gatwick shortly after midnight.

A second flight will operate tomorrow to bring home the company’s remaining holiday makers to the UK.

In a travel advice statement posted “Customers booked on a package holiday are being advised to remain in their hotel and will be accommodated by us until they return to the UK.

“Gambia Experience flight-only customers, with a valid return ticket, are asked to contact our local resort office should they wish to return to the UK on a repatriation flight.

“Our last known flight out to The Gambia will be Friday, January 20 from London Gatwick. If you consider your need to travel essential, (e.g. Gambia national returning home) then we may be able to arrange a one-way fare. Please contact our reservations department on 01489 866939.”

The operator added that customers with bookings to The Gambia until January 31 were being offered full refunds, the opportunity to delay their travel until government travel advice changes or the chance to choose alternative destinations including Cape Verde and Goa offered by its parent company Serenity Holidays.

Customers with bookings between February 1-15 are being given the option to change their travel dates up to 24 hours before departure or select an alternative destination.

The Gambia Experience said it would “continue to monitor events and liaise with the FCO” and review its amendment and cancellation policy “on a rolling basis” for customers booked to travel after February 15.