Cost of flights taking off as demand rises
FLIGHT costs are soaring after thousands took a chance on the announcement of destinations where quarantining will not be required.
Demand for trips to countries including Portugal and Gibraltar surged in recent days ahead of the Government’s “green list” confirmation.
British Airways is charging £530 for a flight from Heathrow to the Algarve on the afternoon of May 17 – when the ban on foreign holidays will be lifted for people in England.
But flying the same route two days earlier on May 15 costs £282. A BA spokesman said: “Like so many of our customers we’re excited about returning to the skies and we’ve been offering some incredible deals that have been quickly snapped up.”
A Ryanair flight from Stansted to Portugal’s capital Lisbon on the day overseas leisure travel restarts is £152, compared with £15 the day before.
The Foreign Office currently advises against “all but essential travel” to most European countries including France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
But a flight to Alicante from Manchester Airport with Ryanair costs £16.99 on May 16 then more than doubles on May 17 to £38.29.
Meanwhile, EasyJet is charging £234 for a flight from Luton to the Algarve on May 17 but only £73 the previous day.
A newly-scheduled Wizz Air flight from Luton to Gibraltar is drawing in travellers on May 17 for £62.99 before increasing to £98.99 a few days later when demand is expected to have increased.