Travel between England and Portugal could soon be given the green light with the Government reportedly set to lift restrictions forcing quarantine on returning home.
It is understood that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is set to update the government’s list of Covid-safe travel corridors next week.
Portugal is currently excluded from the list of 59 countries where holidaymakers can travel without the need to self-isolate for 14 days when they return to England.
However, the Times reports Mr Shapps is planning to announce an end to quarantine restrictions for the popular holiday destination on Monday.
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The decision to initially exclude Portugal from the list - published at the start of July - due to a spike in cases in capital Lisbon infuriated its government which has lobbied hard for it to be included.
Coronavirus cases are lower in popular tourist destinations such as the Algarve, the Azores islands and Madeira - with the Foreign Office having already lifted the ban on non-essential travel to the latter two.
No10 has, meanwhile, moved to quash reports that Spain could be axed from the list following a dramatic surge of 9,000 cases this week.
Particular concern surrounds the regions of Catalonia and Aragon, and as a result there has been some suggestion of the introduction of "regional air bridges".
Though Government sources say that is not under consideration.
However, Gloria Guevara, president of the World Travel and Tourism Council, said air corridors between "financial centres", such as London and New York, could provide a "vital boost to business travel" and help boost the economy.
She added: "Enforcing country-wide restrictions is a blunt instrument which benefits no one."
The compulsory two-week quarantine period on all arrivals into the UK was introduced on June 8, before being relaxed for those arriving in England
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland later did the same, although Scotland initially excluded Spain, though that is set to change.
The Department for Transport declined to comment.
