Bookings take off at Jet2.com

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays has said that bookings have spiked following the changes in travel restrictions on Friday.

Speaking on Friday evening Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said: “We have seen demand step up over the last few days, and there has been an immediate and massive surge in bookings for flights and package holidays on the back of this welcome news for holidaymakers in England.”

He added that although it the changes have “been a long time coming”, the Leeds-based business was extremely pleased that the Government has committed to reopening international travel “properly”.

The chief executive highlighted that testing both in resort or via PCR tests on return has “penalised hardworking customers” and that the Traffic Light system has been confusing and “completely unfit for purpose since day one”. However alongside welcoming the change in approach calling it a step in the right direction, he noted “more can still be done”.

As an immediate response to the changes, the airline and holiday company which recently agreed to purchase 36 new Airbus A32 planes and in July noted that the “unparalleled challenges” of 2020 had cost the business almost £1m per day, will be restarting its flights to Turkey (Antalya and Dalaman from Thursday.

Heapy said: “We are delighted to be restarting this programme and with great deals to be had, we know there will be phenomenal demand for late-summer sunshine, October half-term breaks and winter sun. The same applies to the 40-plus destinations we are operating to.

“The desire to get away for a well-earned holiday in the sunshine has never diminished, however harsh and unfair restrictions have remained a barrier for some. Now many of these restrictions have been removed, the rush in bookings for flights and package holidays to sun, ski and leisure city destinations tells us just how much holidaymakers have been longing to get away. Holidays mean so much to everyone, and we cannot wait to take our customers away on them.”

The change in requirements is likely to have a detrimental impact on those businesses that are processing Covid-19 tests, with SourceBio International, the Nottingham-based laboratory services firm noting that 75% of its increased revenues for the first half of 2021 were derived from COVID-19 testing.

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