YEADON-based Jet2 said it has seen an "immediate surge" in bookings to Greece and Cyprus on the back of news that holidaymakers will be welcomed to both destinations this summer.

There was a huge increase in bookings following the Prime Minister’s announcement of an exit roadmap from lockdown, and now data from Jet2.com and Jet2holidays shows that bookings to Cyprus jumped by another 200 per cent following news that British nationals who have been vaccinated will be able to travel there this summer.

The companies are also reporting a spike in bookings to Greece this morning, after the Greek Tourism Minister said that visitors are welcome if they have been vaccinated, have antibodies or have tested negative for coronavirus.

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays will operate to 14 destinations in Greece this Summer, with early signs showing strong demand to popular Greek islands such as Corfu, Crete, Kefalonia, Rhodes and Zante as well as Santorini, Skiathos and Halkidiki.

The companies recently added more flights and holidays to Zante, Crete (Heraklion), Rhodes and Kefalonia, extending the Summer 21 season and providing customers with more choice on the back of demand.

The companies operate flights and holidays to Larnaca and Paphos in Cyprus, with bookings data showing a significant spike in families booking holidays.

Given the current restrictions, flights and holidays are suspended up to and including May 16.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said: “The UK is the most advanced country in Europe when it comes to successfully rolling out a vaccine, so we applaud the Greek and Cypriot governments for their forward-thinking decisions.

"This, on the back of the recent announcement by the UK government, gives customers great confidence that they can get away to enjoy the sunshine this summer and the numbers show that this confidence is increasing all the time.

“We are very pleased that the Government has shown a clear ambition to reopen international travel in the coming months, and we look forward to more detail in due course. Throughout the pandemic, we have done absolutely everything to look after our valued customers and we have always said that the sun will shine for them once again. We know what an incredibly difficult time it has been for everyone, and we very much look forward to taking everyone from our rainy islands to their dream holiday choice this summer and beyond."