A major airline will start to sell flights and holiday packages to newly-announced green list destinations next week.
Jet2 will begin selling trips to the Balearic Islands of Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca, plus the islands of Madeira and Malta, from July 1 after the relaxation of Covid travel restrictions.
The destinations were among those added to the green list with some Caribbean islands and British Overseas Territories, from 4am Wednesday.
Read more: Ibiza, Majorca and Barbados added to 'green list'
However, Jet2 has postponed the restart of its Turkey flights and holidays until July 22, because the country remains on the government’s red list.
An update on amber list destinations will be given to customers ‘in due course’, the company added.
Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: "We have been urging the UK Government to stay true to their word and follow the scientific evidence when it comes to making decisions about international travel, so today’s announcement is an overdue but welcome step in the right direction.
"We believe other destinations should still be added to the Green List, however what this demonstrates is that the Government is firmly committed to reopening international travel and we commend that approach.
"This is fantastic news for our customers who want nothing more than to get away for a much-needed holiday. Now that we have some clarity about where we can fly to, our focus is on getting everything ready for the restart of our international flights and holidays.
"I know the announcement has sent a wave of excitement through our business. Our colleagues have worked so hard to look after customers throughout the pandemic, and I know how much they are looking forward to taking customers on their holidays again."
The Jet2 boss pledged to update customers planning to holiday to amber list destinations.
He added: "We will provide an update to customers in due course. We welcome recent news reports about vaccinated people being able to travel to Amber List destinations without having to quarantine and we look forward to further updates on this. The vaccination programme has been a huge success, so it is time for us all to enjoy the benefits of that.
“UK holidaymakers have looked on with envy as other countries across Europe have opened up. It is finally their turn to get away on their precious holidays to the sunshine and we could not be more excited about taking them away.”
Jet2 has announced it will put more than 70 additional flights on sale to Malta and Madeira with immediate effect, representing thousands of extra seats on sale in July and August. This includes adding a new route to Malta from London Stansted.
A breakdown of these additional flights is as follows:
Madeira
- Birmingham – additional Saturday services operating from July 3 through to August 28.
- Leeds Bradford - additional Saturday services operating from July 3 through to August 28.
Malta
- Birmingham – additional Sunday services operating from July 4 through to August 29.
- Leeds Bradford - additional Saturday services operating from July 3 through to August 28.
- Manchester – additional Tuesday services operating from July 13 through to August 31.
- Newcastle - additional Sunday services operating from July 4 through to August 29.
- London Stansted – additional Tuesday and Saturday services operating from July 3 to August 31.
