Travel Firms Lay On Extra Flights For Great Escape

Thousands more flights are being put on for Covid-weary Brits desperate for a foreign getaway.

- Adam Aspinall, Lucy Thornton And Graham Hiscott

Bookings have soared by up to 600% since the Government’s green travel list was published.

So far only 12 destinations have been approved by the Government, including the chilly South Sandwich islands and popular Portugal.

But easyJet have put more than 80,000 extra seats to green-list destinations on sale.

The news delighted Joao Fernandes, head of tourism in Portugal’s Algarve region. He told The Mirror: “We... are very ready to welcome British visitors.”

Portugal is accounting for around eight out of 10 getaways snapped up since Friday’s news.

Operator TUI said one customer had spent £18,000 on a break.

It added: “We’ve had the best day of sales for summer 2021 holidays since the initial road map announcement.”