Portugal flights back to UK sell out as Matt Hancock says quarantine decision will be published tomorrow

Flights to the UK from Portugal have sold out across a range of airlines as Britons scramble to return home ahead of new possible quarantine restrictions.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock appeared to all but confirm this morning that the country will return to the Government’s travel “red list”, but said anxious travellers will have to wait for the decision until tomorrow.

All Ryanair flights from Faro to London Stansted have been snapped up for both Thursday and Friday, with quarantine restrictions likely to apply from 4am on Saturday, according to Downing Street’s previous travel announcements.

Only business class was left on the British Airways flight from Faro, leaving at 6.30pm and due to arrive at London Heathrow at 9.20pm, with tickets costing £856.

Easyjet was cheaper, with tickets on sale for just under £350 from Faro to Gatwick, leaving at 8.05pm and scheduled to arrive at 10.50pm on Thursday and Friday.

However, shortly after 9am, these – along with flights from Lisbon to the London airport – were also all gone.

Asked if people who go to Portugal tomorrow will have to quarantine when they come back, Mr Hancock told Sky News: “Everybody has seen that we are prepared to take decisions to put individual countries back on the quarantine list if that is what is necessary.

"We keep this constantly under review and then we announce these decisions usually on a Friday lunchtime.

"So people should look at the data but also should only travel if they are prepared to quarantine if the virus goes up when they are in that country."

In recent weeks, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced changes to its quarantine exemption list on Thursday nights, with the new rules being imposed on Saturdays at 4am.

Matt Hancock said a decision would be announced on Portugal on Friday
Sky News

Pressed on whether people thinking about going to Portugal tomorrow, should go or not, he added: "We are going to publish a further decision tomorrow having looked at the data."

Travel restrictions were lifted on the country less than two weeks ago, as its Covid-19 infection rate saw a steady decline.

However, the number of cases has since picked up sharply, with the seven-day rate rising to 22.7, compared with 14.2 for the previous week.

A seven-day rate of 20 is the threshold above which the Government generally considers triggering restrictions.

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on England to consider imposing quarantine rules on travellers arriving from Greece.

Rising Covid cases in the region prompted the Scottish Government to announce travellers from the mainland and its islands would have to self-isolate for 14 days from Thursday, while Wales began instructing arrivals from Zante to self-isolate for 14 days.

The UK’s biggest tour operator Tui has suspended its holidays to the resort of Laganas on Zante.

But Greece has insisted it is doing “everything in our power” to keep UK holidaymakers safe.