easyJet holidays is today celebrating the return of holidays as its first customers of 2021 touched down in Faro.

The holiday operator had cancelled all holidays since December 2020 in response to travel restrictions and FCDO travel warnings. Following the government’s travel announcement on 7 May, holidays to green list destinations Portugal and Gibraltar will once again be taking off this week.

All customers landing into Faro were greeted with a local gift, courtesy of easyJet holidays and their destination partners, to celebrate being the first arrivals to enjoy the return of holidays.

As part of its Protection Promise, and in anticipation of the introduction of the traffic light system, easyJet holidays further enhanced its Covid commitments. Customers could already make changes to their holiday, fee free, up to 28 days before departure and now, if their holiday is on the ‘amber’ list for example, customers can make changes up to 24 hours before travel.

Matt Callaghan, easyJet holidays Director of Customer & Operations who travelled to Faro for the return of holidays, said: “This is the moment we’ve been waiting for, and we’re really excited to be welcoming our first customers of 2021 back on their well-deserved holidays. We’ve had a fantastic response already from the customers we’ve met today, and we’re seeing the excitement of others who are travelling this week.

“We know it’s been uncertain which is why we’ve been offering even more flexibility than ever, but we also think it’s important customers can make their own choice about their holidays and many of our customers have been telling us they are desperate to travel. We’re absolutely committed to doing the right thing by our customers and making sure they have safe and enjoyable holidays.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to our customers for their loyalty and patience during such an unusual year, as well as a thank you to our team and to our partners on the ground in Portugal who are helping us create fantastic holiday experiences for our customers this summer.”

Natalie Davies, who travelled with her husband Steve and their son Vigo, 12, said: “As soon as we heard that Portugal was on the green list, we didn’t waste any time and booked with easyJet holidays straight away. I’m so excited to be here – I almost did a little dance as we landed! Now I can’t wait to get to our hotel and enjoy a cocktail.”

Georgina Raven, who travelled with her partner Gary Underdown and son Jack,12, said: “We’ve been desperate to get away so when Portugal joined the green list we booked this trip that same day.

After such a challenging year, this trip with easyJet holidays already feels really special and we can’t wait to get to our hotel and chill out in the sunshine!”

João Fernandes, President of Algarve Tourism said: “Algarve has long been a favourite holiday destination for visitors from the UK, so the return of holidays is really significant to us and a moment we’ve been looking forward to all year. It’s great to welcome easyJet holidays back as the first major tour operator to restart holidays.

“We’re proud to be partners of easyJet holidays and we look forward to many more being able to enjoy our beautiful region this summer.”

All easyJet holidays are ATOL protected and the holiday provider is an ABTA member too, providing additional reassurance to customers under the UK’s most trusted travel scheme. The operator recently signed up to BBC Watchdog’s Package Holiday Pledge, to help those looking to book a package holiday choose a provider who will best protect them.

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

For more information, interview requests or imagery, please contact the team on Holidays.pressoffice@easyjet.com / 01582 280508

About easyJet holidays:

easyJet holidays offers great-value beach, city and lakes holidays to more than 100 destinations across Europe, directly through their website and through over 3000 travel agent partners. The ATOL-protected holidays company combines easyJet’s flexible flight programme, handpicked hotels and best-in-class technology to provide hassle-free personalised holiday experiences which can be secured with a deposit of just £60 per person. The holidays operator is an ABTA member too, providing additional reassurance to customers under the UK’s most trusted travel scheme.

With a range of holiday types, from adult and family to luxury and undiscovered, transfers included on beach holidays, 23kg hold luggage included as standard on all bookings, and over 5,000 hotels, across over 500 resorts, customers can holiday the way they want.

All easyJet holidays are covered by its Protection Promise, an industry leading policy giving customers ultimate flexibility, protection and reassurance and letting them book with total confidence. The Promise offers a refund guarantee, freedom to change a booking, a reduced balance due date, a Best Price Guarantee, deposit refunds, and Covid commitments to ensure flexibility if there are known restrictions at home or in destination.