British Airways has announced new flights between Newcastle and Faro after the Government revealed its 'green list' destinations.
Portugal has been included on the safe list for quarantine-free travel from May 17 as lockdown restrictions in England are relaxed.
Alongside Gibraltar and Israel, it is one of the only popular summer short-haul destinations out of 12 countries and territories on the new green list for travel.
Spain, France and Greece failed to make the cut and are on the amber list, while Turkey, the Maldives and Nepal have been added to the red list.
Holiday prices to 'green list' destinations are already surging following the announcement by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps at a Downing Street press conference on Friday.
Now British Airways has revealed it is starting to operate twice-weekly flights between Newcastle and Faro, Portugal, from May 29, with tickets on sale.
Chairman and CEO of British Airways, Sean Doyle, said: "We're pleased that our customers are able to start travelling again to some countries, including Portugal, and we've put on additional flights from London, Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh to Faro to help people get moving."
Leon McQuaid, head of aviation development at Newcastle International Airport said: "We are delighted to see further investment by British Airways into Newcastle International Airport, demonstrating their confidence in our region and airport.
"We know there is pent-up demand for leisure travel to Portugal and British Airway’s announcement today is brilliant news for the North East travelling public looking for a well-deserved sunshine break."
The DfT also announced that from May 17, people who have had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine will be able to demonstrate their status on the NHS app currently used to book medical appointments and order repeat prescriptions.
People who do not have the app – which is different from the Covid-19 app – will be able to request an NHS letter from that date.
The green list also consists of Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, Iceland and the Faroe Islands and the Falklands.
This is in addition to the remote territories of the Falklands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha.
Despite being on the green list, people will not be able to go on holiday to Australia, New Zealand or Singapore as they are closed to UK tourists.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the removal of international travel restrictions was “necessarily cautious” and that the Government must “make absolutely sure” the countries the UK reconnects with are safe.
He said: “We in this country have managed to construct a fortress against Covid. But the disease is still prevalent in other parts of the world, most notably at the moment in India.
“In fact, more new cases of Covid have been diagnosed around the world in the last seven days than at any time since the pandemic began.”
