Jet2 launches new summer flights from North East to Malta after bookings surge 1,500%

Jet2holidays has introduced a new Sunday service to Malta from Newcastle International Airport between July 4 and August 29.

Holiday firms have seen a surge in demand for locations such as Spain’s Balearic Islands, Malta, Madeira and several Caribbean nations among 14 countries and territories moved to the green list on Thursday.

People arriving in the UK from those locations after 4am on Wednesday, June 30, will no longer be required to self-isolate.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News the changes to the green list provide “a little bit of relief for the travel industry and for people who wish to get away”.

He added: “It won’t be quite like it was in 2019 and the old days, but we are moving in a positive direction.”

However, all of the additions except Malta were also put on a watchlist, which means they are at risk of returning to the amber list.

A number of popular hotspots such as France, Greece, Italy and mainland Spain remain in the amber tier.

Travellers returning to the UK from those locations must self-isolate at home for 10 days, making holidays unviable for many people.

Jet2 says it has seen a ‘huge’ surge in bookings to the destinations which have been added to the Green List.

The company reported the highest volume of bookings to the Balearic Islands in almost a year, with bookings for July alone up more than 3,000%.

Bookings for Malta and Madeira also jumped by almost 1,500%.

CEO Steve Heapy said: “We knew there was a lot of pent-up demand out there but the response from our customers has been truly incredible.

“We are pleased the UK Government has followed the science and put a number of popular destinations onto the Green List, although by looking at the data we firmly believe that 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 that we can understand their decision-making when it comes to international travel.”

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