Surge of interest in Condor bookings after UK announces lockdown exit strategy

Credit ITV Channel TV
On Monday, the UK government announced its strategy to relax Covid-19 restrictions over the next few months. Credit: ITV Channel TV

Condor Ferries has reported a 46% increase in visits to its booking website in the past 24 hours.

This surge in interest in sailings between the UK and the Channel Islands comes after the UK government's announcement to relax Covid-19 restrictions over the coming months.

Condor believes the stepping up of vaccination programmes and the likelihood of people in the UK wanting to holiday closer to home, has contributed to the increased volumes of web traffic.

Chief Executive Paul Luxon described the figures as "encouraging", adding that when it is "safe and responsible to do so" he will take "advantage" of this interest in sea travel.

The UK government's own plan for exiting the current restrictions suggest the easing of international travel would not happen until mid-May, at the earliest.


Credit: Blue Islands

Meanwhile, airline Blue Islands says it has also seen a 'significant increase' in bookings and web traffic since the UK Prime Minister's announcement.

The company's CEO Rob Veron says the airline is ready to restart flights as soon as it is safe to do so, with no change fees for bookings made before Sunday 14 March.

Blue Islands is currently running essential services between Jersey and the UK for repatriation, compassionate and medical reasons.