5,000 jet off to the Algarve sunshine
OVER 5,000 Britons will jet into the Algarve today as the UK’s “green travel list” great getaway finally takes off.
The first flight allowed to carry holidaymakers was due to leave Manchester at dawn, touching down in Faro at 9am.
Dozens of flights are scheduled to arrive in the city during the day, carrying an estimated 5,500 travellers.
They will be greeted by wall-towall sunshine and temperatures of over 80F (27C), which forecasters say will last all week.
Other airlines are taking passengers to Lisbon and Porto as Portugal opens its doors on what is being dubbed Manic Monday.
It is the first major European holiday destination to get Downing Street green light status. Neighbour Spain is finding itself on the amber list, meaning British holidaymakers are advised not to go and have to self-isolate for 10 days when they return.
Travel firms have reported a surge in bookings to Portugal following the
May 7 green-light announcement.
Most hotels are fullybooked for the end of May, when the majority of UK schools are on half-term.
With demand soaring, airlines have ramped up the number of passengers they can take over the coming weeks. A spokeswoman for easyJet reported a “surge” in bookings and British Airways called the rise in demand “massive”. Insiders though put the increases into context, given the low rate of bookings before the list was announced earlier this month. As a result, the numbers jetting off today will still be down on normal times. However, it gives hope for millions of families finally dreaming of a sunshine break abroad.
EasyJet had five flights due to depart today – four to Faro in Portugal, and one to Gibraltar, which is also on the green list. BA has five flights to Portugal and Ryanair has 13 flights due to leave from airports across the UK to Portugal.
Meanwhile, travel company Tui has four flights carrying 600 people to the Portuguese island of Madeira on the same day.
Ryanair, which refused to reveal how many passengers it would be carrying today, has cut ticket prices on flights to Faro to as little as £9.99 one way.
The prices of BA flights suggested planes were filling up.
On Thursday, the airline was selling seats on its 8.40am flight leaving today from Heathrow to Faro for £390 one way.
By late on Friday, the same flight had jumped to £426.
Those willing to wait for a later