Giddy Leeds holidaymakers ready for 'a bit of sun' were among the passengers catching the first flight from the UK to Portugal's southern coast today as the lockdown travel ban lifted.
Couple Ian and Mandy Bennett from Leeds arrived in Faro this morning after bagging seats on the first flight to Faro from Manchester Airport.
Luke Senior, 25, also from Leeds, also jetted off and said he was 'ready to party'.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror in the airport queue, Luke, an electrician, bagged his ticket two days ago for the 6.15am Monday Ryanair flight.
He said: “I’m flying out to meet up with a mate. I booked the flight two days ago.
“I just want to have a bit of sun. I’m really excited. I’m ready to party.”
Portugal was officially cleared for holidays from 4am today on the government's green list for travel, including the Azores and Madeira, after the country confirmed it was opening its borders to UK visitors on Friday.
To get away, British travellers must take a Covid-19 test, book and pay for a day two Covid test to be taken after arriving back in England, and fill out a passenger locator form. People returning back to the UK from Portugal do not need to quarantine unless their day two test is positive.
It's estimated that 5,000 Brits desperate for a getaway will be heading to sunny Portugal every day this week.
Inside Manchester Airport, masks were compulsory for both travellers and staff.
And announcements reminded passengers to respect social distancing guidelines.
The airport, which usually handles around 30million passengers a year, had little of its pre-Covid hustle and bustle, with few shops open and the bars firmly shut.
The first flight out of Manchester today was at 6am to the Portuguese island of Maderia.
Portugal’s secretary of state for tourism Rita Marques said “everything is open”.
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She said: “Some restrictions apply, of course, so you have to wear a mask, you have to maintain social distancing.
“Masks need to be used all day long, except when you are on the beach, of course.
“So if you are going to a restaurant near the beach you should wear a mask, but if you are near the sea you don’t need to wear a mask.”
She added: “At the end of the day, the experience will be great.”
