Twenty mask-wearing passengers boarded easyJet's first flight from Liverpool Airport today after 11 weeks of planes being grounded.
One of them was Shaun Dixon, who was travelling to Belfast for work.
Since March 30, easyJet hasn't operated any flights due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The Foreign Office has also asked Brits not to travel abroad unless it is essential.
But 11 weeks since airline operations ground to a halt, the first easyJet flight departed from Liverpool.
The 8.35am flight to Northern Ireland's capital saw all passengers and crew wear face masks, following a deep-clean of the aircraft.
Speaking to the ECHO, easyJet passenger Shaun said he found the whole experience 'very safe'.
He said: "[Check-in] was strange and empty. It was safe and everyone kept a distance."
At this time of year, Liverpool Airport would usually be heaving with holidaymakers, but Shaun said there were only about 30 to 40 passengers in the entire airport.
He said: "Nothing is open and all the shops are shut. There are just plastic screens up at the gates to protect staff."
On the flight itself, Shaun from Manchester, says there were plenty of empty seats.
He said: "There were 20 people [on the flight] but I picked a seat at the back.
"The crew sat everyone in their seats then moved people to give them more room.
"I had the back of the plane to myself.
"It’s very safe, everyone is keeping their distance but as long as you look after yourself and do the right things you’ll be okay."
EasyJet's initial schedule involves mainly domestic flying in the UK and France.
The airline will ramp up its operations in the coming weeks.
It plans to reopen half of its 1,022 routes by the end of next month, increasing to 75% during August.
But flights will be at a lower frequency than normal, meaning the airline will operate at around 30% of its normal capacity between July and September.
