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Air fares from Portugal soar as quarantine fears rise

The price of flights from Portugal to the UK have skyrocketed as the country looks set to be added to the UK government quarantine list on Thursday (September 3).

According to Sky News, British Airways has seats available for £554 on Thursday, while the same journey can be made seven days later for just £139.

EasyJet has sold all its flights from Faro to airports in Britain on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, added the report.

Sky News said UK holidaymakers in Portugal are “scrambling to return home to avoid having to self-isolate if the quarantine measure is imposed”.


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Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways’ parent IAG, warned on Tuesday of ‘further chaos and hardship for travellers’ if the UK government re-imposed quarantine rules for Portugal.

The destination looks likely to be taken off the UK’s ‘safe list’ following a rise in Covid-19 cases – just two weeks after being removed.

Tourists who booked last-minute holidays to Portugal must wait until Thursday for the weekly Department for Transport review to find out if the restriction will be re-imposed.

Chris Sainty, the British Ambassador to Portugal, said it has been great to see “thousands of British holidaymakers” but warned: “Things can change quickly. As cases rise across Europe, quarantine has been reintroduced for many countries.

“Travellers should consider their plans carefully and factor in the risks of travelling abroad in this fast-moving situation.

“Only travel if you are content to unexpectedly quarantine if required.”

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