The big two UK tour operators have moved to resume flights to the Canary Islands after the winter sun destination was granted travel corridor status.
Tui is to resume flights to Fuerteventura and Lanzarote this weekend, with flights beginning on Saturday October 24.
Jet2holidays, the UK’s largest operator to the Canaries, is resuming flights to Tenerife from Friday, October 30, with services to Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura commencing from November 1.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps announced this afternoon that the Canaries, along with the Maldives, Denmark and Greek island Mykonos were being added to the UK travel corridors list from Sunday, October 25.
Andrew Flintham, managing director of Tui UK and Ireland, said: “The reintroduction of the Canary Islands is a positive step forward for our business and all our customers who wish to enjoy a well-deserved break overseas this half-term and during the winter months.
“We haven’t been able to take people on a Tui holiday to the Canary Islands for 89 days, when the sudden quarantine and subsequent travel advice was imposed with little notice.
“We’re therefore delighted that UK flights will now resume from Saturday 24 October. The first flights will depart to Fuerteventura and Lanzarote this weekend, with many more added in the coming days.
“We urge the government to continue to work closely with the industry on airport testing so we can open up more destinations in the coming weeks.
“We must move away, where possible, from the anxiety our industry faces waiting for the new list of places people can travel to each week. This level of uncertainty is damaging for business and all those employed in our industry.”
Jet2holidays’ Canary Island services will operate from all nine of its UK bases.
Chief executive Steve Heapy said: “We welcome today’s announcement and we know that our customers, who want to get flying again, will do so too. For some time we have been calling for a proportionate, evidence-based approach to safe travel and this is very much a step in the right direction. There is much to do still, and we look forward to working with government to achieve that.”
Heapy added: “The Canary Islands are hugely important, for us and independent travel agents as businesses, and for our customers as a much-loved holiday favourite too. We know how much our customers want to get away for some winter sun in the Canaries, and they can do this again from October 30 onwards.
“As the UK’s leading operator to the Canary Islands, we will be restarting with a programme that means independent travel agents can offer customers unrivalled choice and flexibility, as well as all the award-winning benefits that they know and love.”
