Research released today reveals that 49% of Londoners would still get on a plane abroad, despite the newly enforced two-week quarantine rule.

The survey, conducted by Holiday Extras, the UK market leader in holiday extras is part of a monthly poll released by the travel company since the start of the pandemic.

Defying government pessimism, the results go onto show that 53% are still expecting to get their week or two in the sun before the end of the year, with 24% set on travelling by August. Regular flyers are even more optimistic with 72% of those who flew in the last three months expecting to do so again in 2020, and 60% of those who flew this year feel the same. 13% of frequent flyers even say they will be getting on the first plane the government says is safe.

Whilst a quick bounce back looks less realistic, preparations are being made on all sides for holiday flights to resume.

Ant Clarke-Cowell, Associate Brand Director at Holiday Extras said:

“It’s wonderful to see the optimism and determination of British holidaymakers, even in these trying times, to look forward to their week or two in the sun. Certainly, the numbers are down from March and April, but more than half of the 1,000 holidaymakers we polled expect to be back on the beach before the year is out, and after the year we’re having, who can blame them?”

“Preparations are being made on all sides to make it possible. Only this week the EU issued guidelines for how holidays could resume. Greece has published its own guidelines insisting that its beaches will be open for business by June. “

“Even if there is a little way to go with our own lockdown before Brits will be driving to the airport, we can see from our survey that the demand is there from holidaymakers here. We can see that our favourite tourist hotspots are keen to reopen for business. All we are really waiting for is for everyone to agree a way for us to get back to the beach in a way that is safe and responsible for everyone concerned. Let’s get it done.”