UK holiday bookings rise after plan announced

EasyJet has seen the number of bookings on a weekly basis triple, while the number of bookings specifically for the holiday period has increased six-fold, according to Reuters. Travel group TUI has seen bookings increase by 500%, while competitor Jet2 reports an increase of 600%.

Johnson has set a deadline of April 12 in which he will provide final clarification on resuming overseas travel. From this date, national holidays to self-catering holiday accommodation are again authorized.

At least until May 17, a ban on most international travel will remain in place. The hope is that the mandatory ten-day quarantine will then also be lifted. It remains to be seen how soon British holidaymakers will be welcomed by other countries.

EasyJet and TUI will see vacation travel demand pick up in countries like Spain, Portugal, Greece and Turkey from July. Trips in August and September are also popular. The Skyscanner ticketing site has also seen the number of bookings increase, but not as extreme as with easyJet, TUI and Jet2.

The exit from the lockdown in the UK parallels the progress of the roll-out of the vaccination program. A quarter of the British population has now had a first injection. The government plans to introduce a vaccination passport to facilitate travel for vaccinated people.