Travel: Huge surge in bookings for Balearic Islands. Holiday group calls for more ‘green’ destinations

HOLIDAY travel group Jet2 says it has witnessed a “huge surge” in bookings after the British government expanded its green list of approved destinations.

Jet2holidays along with airline Jet2 reported July reservations for the Balearics soared by over 3,000% after it was added to the approved list of countries to visit without having to quarantine on return to the UK.

Bookings to Malta and Madeira also rose by 1,500% as Brits looked for a sunshine holiday as coronavirus pandemic regulations eased – Jet2 adding an extra 70 flights to boost capacity.

However, the group believes the British government missed an opportunity to add more countries to the green list.

Chief executive of both Jet2 and Jet2holidays, Steve Heapy said: “We are pleased that the UK government has followed the science and put a number of popular destinations onto the green list; although looking at the data, we firmly believe more destinations should have been added.

“This is a missed opportunity and we once again ask the government to share the parameters with us so we can understand their decision making when it comes to international travel.”

He said the group realised there was a lot of “pent up demand” for travel across Britain but there was an “incredible” response as rules were relaxed – bookings to Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Malta and Madeira had “gone through the roof”.