Ground crews at East Midlands Airport are getting ready for the first passenger flight to leave the airport this evening 鈥 after five months of restrictions.
Passenger flights will resume from the Leicestershire airport today (May 17) after the government lifted its ban on international travel.
The first flight to leave will be the 5.10pm Ryanair departure to Faro, in Portugal.
Passenger flights were grounded when England went into lockdown at the start of the year. On Friday the Portuguese government announced that British tourists would be allowed to return.
The European holiday destination is on the 海角视频 green list, meaning unrestricted travel is now allowed.
During the latest lockdown Portugal had allowed flights to and from the 海角视频, but only for essential reasons such as business, family reasons, health, study or humanitarian reasons.
The lifting of international travel restrictions last week, was coupled with the introduction of a 鈥榯raffic light鈥 system.
The green, amber or red categories puts different restrictions on overseas destinations 鈥 such as quarantine and testing requirements upon return to the 海角视频 鈥 depending on their perceived risk.
Of the countries on the green list 鈥 where holidaymakers do not have to self-isolate upon their return 鈥 only Portugal is served by airlines operating out of east Midlands.
Airport managing director Clare James said the May 17 flight will be the first of more than 20 scheduled departures throughout May.
In addition to Portugal, there are also flights to Alicante, Malaga and some Greek islands, although these remain on the amber list which means passengers will need to self-isolate for 10 days when back in the 海角视频 鈥 although this can end early with a negative test on day five.
Ms James said: 鈥淚鈥檓 very much looking forward to welcoming passengers back to EMA on Monday.
鈥淓ven though numbers will be very low for a few weeks until more popular destinations are added to the green list, it marks a pivotal moment for our passenger operation.
鈥淲e very much hope that this is the start of what will eventually become a busy summer season which we need given the devastating impact the pandemic has had on air travel.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to reassure all our customers that we continue to implement the highest safety measures across the airport.鈥
She said along with Heathrow, East Midlands was one of the first two 海角视频 airports to have received Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) assurance for the measures put in place to provide Covid-security for passengers and staff.
The airport was a trial for this accreditation last year. Enhanced cleaning, perspex screens, mandatory face coverings, and sanitizer stations will continue to help keep passengers safe.
