Holidaymakers flocking to Canary Islands after easing of quarantine restrictions

Travel firms such as Tui, easyJet, Hays Travel and On the Beach reported a surge in demand since the change in Government policy was announced on Thursday night.

Holidaymakers returning from the Spanish islands no longer need to self-isolate for 14 days from 4am on Sunday after the destination was added to the list of travel corridors.

Tui reported that the number of people searching online for trips to the popular winter sun destination was seven times higher in the hours after the announcement, compared with the previous day.

Managing director Andrew Flintham claimed this “phenomenal reaction” demonstrated “just how much people want a holiday”.

He went on: “Our half-term bookings have soared since the announcement, with 25% of those booked to travel to the Canaries departing for the islands (on Saturday) or Sunday.

“We’re really pleased to be able to take customers away for a much needed break to our most popular mid-haul destinations.

“This is a positive step forward and we hope we can now look forward to the introduction of airport testing which will allow us to open up more destinations in the coming weeks.”

EasyJet is putting on more flights to the Canary Islands from Gatwick, Luton, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast.

Additional seats are available from Gatwick and Manchester for half-term travel.

The airline is offering more than 180,000 additional seats to the Canary Islands up to the end of March 2021.

EasyJet UK country manager Ali Gayward said: “Since the Government’s announcement we’ve already seen a surge of demand for flights and holidays to the Canary Islands.

“We know that there is customer demand, they want to travel and this demonstrates they will do so when travel restrictions are relaxed.”

Hays Travel said the total number of visits to its website were up 53% due to the announcement, while On the Beach reported that nearly three out of four bookings it is receiving are for trips to the Canary Islands.