Portugal trips now in doubt as EU dithers over borders

POPULAR Algarve beach

BRITISH travellers to Portugal may be turned away at the airport before a critical EU decision, it was feared last night.

The warning came as some airlines slashed ticket prices to the holiday hotspot for less than £10.

Brits can fly to the EU country from Monday when travel curbs are eased.

The country is the only major sunshine destination visited by Britons that is on the Government’s green list.

But a Brussels decision on opening borders to visitors from outside the EU is not due until next week at the earliest.

The Portuguese Cabinet is due to discuss the issue.

“If they don’t resolve it the alternative will be thousands of British visitors being turned away at the airport, which is not a good scenario,” an official told The Times.

BOOKING

But the Mirror understands a travel ban advisory is only “guidance” and Portugal will allow UK flights.

A senior source said: “We are expecting to give the go-ahead on Sunday, British tourists should feel absolutely safe booking their flights now.”

Meanwhile, Ryanair cut ticket prices on flights to Faro to just £9.99 one-way. The first flight to Portugal leaves Manchester at 6.15am on Monday.

Travellers will need to take a PCR test before departing and when they return – but will not need to quarantine in the UK.

Return flights have also been dropped to just £20.

EasyJet has added more than 100,000 seats from the UK to Portugal.

Ali Gayward, the operator’s UK manager, said: “We know how much people are longing for a getaway.”

Businesses in the Algarve are gearing up for an expected influx of Brits.

The country has lifted nearly all Covid restrictions but masks and social distancing remain.