Following the Government announcement last week, travelling abroad is set to get easier. From 4 October, all fully vaccinated passengers, as well those under 18, will not need to take a pre-departure test before returning to England.
The positive news comes just in time for the October half-term school holidays which Newcastle Airport says will see many families taking a long awaited international holiday.
Richard Knight, Chief Operating Officer at Newcastle Airport said: “Last week we welcomed the removal of the pre-departure testing requirement for fully vaccinated passengers returning to England. We have been lobbying the Government for these changes in the hope of making travel as easy as possible.
“Many families and couples have been waiting for a well-deserved holiday and the removal of the pre-departure test will make an international holiday this winter a much more viable option.
“The removal of Turkey from the red list, as well as the return of direct flights to Dubai with Emirates opens up a number of exciting destinations for our passengers to choose from in the coming weeks and months.”
This October will see Newcastle International Airport and its airline partners operate flights to over 40 destinations, providing even more choice for those looking for a winter getaway from the region.
Spain
Holidays to Spain promise to get you on the beach in as little time as possible, thanks to short flight times for many destinations.
Daily flights throughout October to Alicante and Malaga give passengers easy access to the popular Spanish mainland resorts of Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol.
Meanwhile the Balearic Islands of Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca are also well served. These stunning Spanish islands benefit from warmer temperatures than the mainland, especially at night when the temperature drops only slightly from highs of 25 °C to 20°C.
Greek Islands
With a flight time of approximately 4 hours, it might take a little longer to get to your chosen destination but it promises to be worth the wait.
Passengers can choose from multiple flights a week to the Greek islands of Rhodes, Kos and Crete throughout October, known for their stunning sandy beaches, ancient ruins and quaint harbour towns.
Portugal
Passengers can fly every day between Newcastle and Faro, in the stunning Algarve region of southern Portugal, this October. With a warm autumnal climate, days can be spent on one of the region’s stunning beaches or on one of the many world-class golf courses that are dotted around the coastline.
Turkey
Turkey has always been a popular choice for the North East travelling public, and this newly opened up destination is an excellent choice for an affordable half-term holiday.
Fly to Dalaman and head to the famous Blue Lagoon of Olu Deniz, which regularly tops the polls of the World’s best beaches.
Alternatively fly a little further along the coast to Antalya, known as the Turkish Riviera, a destination of yacht-filled marinas and over 650km of white, sandy beaches.
Dubai
If you’re looking for 100% guaranteed sunshine and don’t mind travelling a little further afield, consider Dubai.
The new flight time with Emirates, direct from Newcastle, arrives in Dubai at 07.25 meaning passengers can really maximise their stay. Explore Dubai city or the world-famous Dubai Marina, or head 45 minutes north and stay in the luxury coastal resort of Ras al Kaimah, which offers incredible sunsets, postcard beaches and top-end hotels.
Learn more about the destinations offered from Newcastle International Airport this winter at newcastleairport.com/discover