Airline and tour operator Jet2 is hoping to resume flights to the Balearic and Canary Islands within weeks, it has been reported.
Company bosses say routes from the UK to destinations like Majorca and Ibiza in the Balearics and Tenerife and Lanzarote in the Canaries should restart before the end of summer.
The UK government last weekend abruptly imposed a 14-day quarantine on passengers returning to the country from Spain, including the islands which have low Covid-19 infection rates.
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays chief executive Steve Heapy told trade publication TravelWeekly : "I completely understand that the government is following epidemic advice, but I am hopeful that the data will stabilise in respect of the islands.
"What was concerning the government was the rapid increase in the R rate, but it was big percentages on small numbers. If it stops or slows, there may be some change in the advice.”
He said the move to bring back quarantine on holidaymakers from Spain and subsequent decision to add the Canaries and Balearics to the restrictions had come as a shock.
Mr Heapy claimed the firm has just a few hours notice to notify thousands of customers, hotels and rearrange flights.
He said Jet2 had “got its head down” to deal with the disruption.
He told Travel Weekly :“We were dealt a hand of cards and you just have to play it. Demand dropped immediately but a significant number switched from Spain to the Eastern Med.”
Currently, Jet2 flights and holidays to the Balearic and Canary Islands are suspended until at least August 9 and trips to mainland Spain on hold until August 16 at the earliest.
It has also been reported that Jet2 will offer refunds in lieu of unused nights for customers forced to return home early from holidays after the airline ceased operating flights from Spanish airports.
Jet2 had been flying empty planes to collect holidaymakers on return tips to the UK, but this has now been hlated.
The airline added that it would refund any price difference if customers had to book new flights to return to the UK.
