TUI and Jet2 have issued holiday and flight updates for travellers following lockdown route map announcements across the UK this week.
Nicola Sturgeon said on Tuesday the country would exit lockdown in a gradual three-date plan, with the stay at home message to stay in place until mid-April.
It follows Prime Minister Boris Johnson's roadmap for England, allowing foreign holidays to go ahead from May 17.
While down south has a set date for staycations and foreign trips to go ahead, it is not yet clear when Scots will be allowed to travel under current lockdown plans.
Since the news, airlines reported a surge in summer bookings from hopeful holidaymakers hoping to get away this year.
EasyJet said bookings by UK customers for the summer season were more than four times higher compared with the same period during the previous week, Manchester Evening News reports.
TUI recorded a six-fold increase in bookings, making Monday its busiest day in more than a month.
Jet2.com and its package holiday arm Jet2holidays said total bookings were seven times higher following the announcement, with strong demand for Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus and Turkey.
And online travel firm Thomas Cook said traffic to its website was up 75% on Monday as people rushed to book holidays for this summer and 2022.
In response, some airlines have started releasing statements announcing further flight and holiday cancellations as a result of the roadmap.
Jet2
Jet2.com has extended the suspension of all flights up to and including 16 May 2021 due to the ongoing uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and government travel restrictions.
In a statement, the airline said: "If you've been affected by these programme changes, we'll be automatically cancelling your booking with a full refund. Please be patient with us as we do this.
"If you're due to travel from 17 May 2021 onwards, we'll provide an update closer to the time.
"If you’ve booked your flights through an online travel agent (e.g. On the Beach or loveholidays), you’ll need to get in touch with them directly.
"Our customers are our priority. And during the pandemic, we’ve been repeatedly recognised by the media, consumer organisations and our customers for how we’ve been looking after those who have been affected by programme changes.
"And we’re really proud of that!"
TUI
TUI's bosses said it is hopeful customers can book holidays this year.
Andrew Flintham, managing director in the UK and Ireland, said it was "positive and shows that by working with the travel industry on a risk-based framework our customers will have the opportunity to travel abroad this summer.
"We will continue to work closely with the government so people can look forward to a well-deserved break away, after what has been a very difficult year for many.
“We know there’s a huge demand to travel, with demand for Greece, Spain and Turkey from July onwards the most booked overnight, with bookings up 500 per cent.
“In line with the UK government’s latest lockdown announcement, all TUI holidays from England will not operate before 17 May.
"We will be contacting impacted customers directly, in departure date order, to discuss their options, which will include amending to a later date with an incentive or cancelling and receiving a full refund.
“We know our customers are looking forward to their holidays, so to offer continued flexibility and reassurance, we have extended our free changes policy to the end of June.
"Those due to travel between 17 May and the end of June can change their booking to a later date fee-free.”
