YEADON-based Jet2 says confidence about travel has climbed sharply after the publication of the UK Government’s ‘green list ‘on Friday last week. 

When it comes to confidence about booking and travelling on holidays this summer and beyond, over half (52 per cent) of respondents feel confident – the highest reported level since March and a rise of eight percentage points week-on-week. 

More than half (55 per cent) also say that they are eager to get away as soon as they can.

Just over one in four (27 per cent) say they do not feel confident about travelling – the lowest that this figure has been since March, and the joint-lowest percentage this year.

Jet2holidays, together with airline, Jet2.com, conducts polling with hundreds of UK adults on a range of topics, including consumer confidence. 

The data shows that confidence stepped up significantly in early March. 

Positive developments, such as the UK government’s ambition to reopen travel, the successful vaccine rollout in the UK, and tourism ministers in overseas destinations saying that they will welcome UK holidaymakers this summer all had a positive impact. 

The figure decreased in April, after a lack of clarity in the Global Travel Taskforce’s initial framework, said the airline.

After the green list was published on Friday, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays saw summer bookings to Portugal jump by more than 1,300 per cent week-on-week - a show of the demand and confidence that people have when it comes to getting away this summer. 

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays will recommence flights and holidays on June 24, after a long hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said: “The UK Government has shown a clear ambition to reopen travel, and the publication of the green list has had a very positive impact on customer confidence. 

“We already know that customers are desperate to get away on their holidays, and we certainly saw that over the weekend with a huge rush in bookings to Faro and Madeira for this summer.”

Mr Heapy added: “We know that there is huge demand for our flights and ATOL protected package holidays, and the past few days have shown beyond doubt that if customers are allowed to travel, they will jump at the chance. 

“We look forward to more good news about where we can fly to in the coming weeks; we know that our customers await the same positive news.”