BY TIM HEDGLEY, GROUP TRAVEL EDITOR
Jet2holidays, the UK’s leading tour operator to destinations across the Mediterranean and Canary Islands, together with leisure airline, Jet2.com, today reports a huge surge in bookings to the Balearic Islands (Ibiza, Majorca andMenorca), Malta and Madeira after they were put onto the Green List.
With Jet2.com and Jet2holidays restarting flights and holidays to these Green List destinations from July 1st, customers responded to the update by flocking to book July and August holidays.
The leading leisure airline and package holiday specialist reported the highest volume of bookings to the Balearic Islands in almost a year, with bookings for July alone up more than 3,000%!
Bookings for Malta and Madeira also jumped by almost 1,500% as customers take the chance to finally book and enjoy their much-needed holidays. In response, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have put more than 70 additional flights on sale to Maltaand Madeira with immediate effect, representing thousands of extra seats on sale in July and August.
This includes adding a new route to Malta from London Stansted for Summer 21 (further details below). As well as booking and travelling on award-winning flights and ATOL protected package holidays to these destinations, customers can get to experience and enjoy the company’s VIP customer service which has seen Jet2.com and Jet2holidayswin high-profile accolades before and during the pandemic, such as Which? Recommended Provider and TripAdvisor’s Best Airline – UK and Top 10 Airlines of the World.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said: “We have been urging the UK Government to stay true to their word and follow the scientific evidence when it comes to making decisions about international travel, so today’s announcement is an overdue but welcome step in the right direction.
” We believe other destinations should still be added to the Green List, however what this demonstrates is that the Government is firmly committed to reopening international travel and we commend that approach.
“This is fantastic news for our customers who want nothing more than to get away for a much-needed holiday.
“Now that we have some clarity about where we can fly to, our focus is on getting everything ready for the restart of our international flights and holidays from July 1st. I know today’s announcement has sent a wave of excitement through our business.
“Our colleagues have worked so hard to look after customers throughout the pandemic, and I know how much they are looking forward to taking customers on their holidays again.
“There is enormous pent-up demand for our flights and ATOL protected package holidays, and we know customers will be flocking to book holidays to Ibiza, Majorca, Menorca, Malta and Madeira.
“In response, we have already taken the decision to put more than 70 additional flights on sale to Malta and Madeira with immediate effect, representing thousands of extra seats on sale in July and August.
“This includes adding a new route to Malta from London Stansted for Summer 21 (further details below).
“In regard to the Red and Amber Lists, because Turkey currently remains on the Red List we have already taken the decision to restart flights and holidays to Turkey on 22nd July 2021 and we will keep this decision under review in line with further Government updates.
“For any destinations currently on the Amber List, we will provide an update to customers in due course.
“We welcome recent news reports about vaccinated people being able to travel to Amber List destinations without having to quarantine and we look forward to further updates on this. The vaccination programme has been a huge success, so it is time for us all to enjoy the benefits of that.
“UK holidaymakers have looked on with envy as other countries across Europe have opened up. It is finally their turn to get away on their precious holidays to the sunshine and we could not be more excited about taking them away.”
For further information and to book visit www.jet2.com or www.jet2holidays.com
Independent travel agents can visit: trade.jet2holidays.com
