Tour operator Jet2holidays has reported a dramatic 600 per cent surge in bookings since the roadmap to recovery was revealed.
Most popular destinations include mainland Spain and its islands, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus and Turkey. There is a notable increase in bookings from July, which continues through the rest of the school holidays and Summer 21.
The UK government announced that travel will not return until May 17 at the earliest, so Jet2 has decided to extend the suspension of flights and holidays up to and including May 16.
It will contact customers with affected bookings and offer alternative travel arrangements and holiday options.
Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “We have seen enormous pent-up demand from British holidaymakers for some time, with people wanting nothing more than to get away to the sunshine and enjoy their well-deserved holidays.
"The government’s announcement is the news they have been longing for, and the surge in bookings shows how ready our customers are to get away to the sunshine on a real package holiday."
He added: "We are very pleased that the government has shown a clear ambition to reopen international travel in the coming months, and we look forward to more detail in due course.
"Throughout the pandemic, we have done absolutely everything to look after our valued customers and we have always said that the sun will shine for them once again.
"We know what an incredibly difficult time it has been for everyone, and we very much look forward to taking everyone from our rainy islands to their dream holiday choice this summer and beyond.”
The tour operator and its airline has 56 destinations on sale from across its network of UK bases.
