According to a press release sent to The Portugal News: “Over 1,000 additional seats have been added on routes from Faro to London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol and Manchester.

“To support any customers who require new tests to be able to return to the UK in line with current UK government requirements, the airline and holiday operator is working with its testing partners to assist customers in Portugal who need to make new testing arrangements. Approved testing partner Collinson will be contacting all customers who have a single arrivals PCR test booked or who booked a pre departure test, to advise them to book a second post arrivals test. Customers will be contacted directly from today to help make it as easy as possible to return if they need to, despite the sudden change in restrictions”.

The note continues: “In response to yesterday’s news, easyJet holidays has contacted all customers in Portugal, to assist them to find alternative flights if they want to return home sooner than planned and advising on testing options. The operator has also contacted all customers with imminent departures, to provide them with their options. Customers who no longer wish to travel have the option to make fee free changes to their holiday date or receive easyJet holidays credit, to use towards a holiday in the future when the time is right”.

Johan Lundgren, easyJet CEO said: “We know first-hand from our customers what a blow this sudden decision to put Portugal on the Amber list is. With many British tourists currently in Portugal our priority is to help the customers who need to return ahead of the Tuesday deadline. We are providing over a thousand additional seats from Portugal to the UK by flying larger aircraft on flights and adding some additional flights where there is demand.

“And, for customers who need support with testing requirements, we’re working with approved testing partner Collinson to provide support to customers in Portugal who need to arrange new tests.”