easyJet set to return to Newcastle Airport with flights from July after pulling out of base in pandemic

As restrictions ease again on Monday, May 17, international travel will reopen to a select number of countries on the Government’s safe to travel list – meaning that holidaymakers returning from destinations like Portugal won’t need to quarantine when they arrive back in England.

Now easyJet has joined the likes of British Airways in offering flights to Faro in Portugal from Newcastle Airport in response to demand for travel this summer.

Related: New flights from Newcastle Airport to Portugal announced by British Airways as country is on green list - how much will they cost?

The easyJet flights are set to begin on July 19 and will operate up to three times a week. Flights available to book online now, with fares starting at £29.99.

Leon McQuaid, Head of Aviation Development at Newcastle International Airport, said: “As the North East’s largest airport we are delighted to see ongoing investment by our airlines and

welcome easyJet’s decision to reinstate flights to Faro, Portugal from July.

“The Algarve region is renowned for its quality golf courses, stunning coastline and warm climate therefore we are sure there will be high demand for this service from the North East travelling public.

"Our Ten Point Plan of safety measures ensures the airport is a safe environment for all, which includes an enhanced cleaning regime and over 100 hand sanitser stations throughout the terminal.

“We are very much looking forward to welcoming leisure passengers back for their well-deserved holidays.”

Israel and Gibraltar also among the 12 countries added to the Government’s green travel list, but popular destinations like Spain, France and Greece have been placed on the amber list, while Turkey is among the countries added to the red list.

Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said: “easyJet is the biggest operator from the UK to the European countries which are currently on the Green list, and we have increased our flights to these destinations where we can in order to take as many customers away as possible to reunite them with friends and family or on a long-awaited holiday – and we are ready and able to ramp up.”

Flights are on sale at: easyJet.com or easyjet.com/en/holidays

What safety measures will be on board?

All customers and crew will wear masks on the plane and the cabin will be disinfected daily.

All easyJet aircraft are already fitted with HEPA filters, similar to those used in hospitals, which filter 99.97% ofairborne contaminants in the cabin, including viruses and bacteria.

What if the country gets added to the red or amber list?

easyJet says all customers will now be able to change their flights this summer without a change fee, at any time up to two hours before departure, or request a voucher providing even more last-minute flexibility.

This means that if some travel restrictions are impacting their destination country, such as self-isolation in destination or on return to the UK, customers can change their trip to another country on easyJet’s network.

Plus, should a mandatory hotel quarantine impact a customer’s travel destination this summer, customers can now request a refund for their flight within four weeks before departure if the restriction is still in place, even if their flights are still operating.

For package holiday bookings, customers only need to pay their balance 28 days before travel, and if they need to make any changes or simply change their mind customers can cancel 28 days or more before departure and receive their deposit back.

Should a holiday destination feature on the ‘amber’ list, customers can make fee free changes within 28 days all the way up to 24 hours before travel – up until September 30.

Or should a destination be on the ‘red’ list, holidays here won’t go ahead, and as the planned departure date gets closer, customers can make fee free changes within 28 days or easyJet holidays will cancel the holiday no later than seven days before travel with customers given a full refund.

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