After several months of relative inactivity, Corvera Airport Murcia is re-establishing its status as one of Europe’s key flight hubs for UK and other tourists keen to enjoy summer holidays in one of Spain’s most popular Mediterranean resort areas.
A boost in flight services at the international gateway to the Costa Cálida coincides with hopes by the Murcia tourism sector that at least some parts of Spain will be upgraded from “amber” to “green” category when the British government reviews its “non-essential” travel restrictions on 7 June.
Further optimism has been generated by prime minister Pedro Sánchez’s announcement yesterday (during the Presura20 rural Spain fair in Soria) that Spain will take part in European test trials aimed at activating the EU Digital COVID Certificate before summer. Sánchez described the initiative as “great news for our tourism industry”.
One week earlier, the Spanish prime minister had announced further good news for the national and regional tourist industry. Since last Monday, British travellers have been able to fly into Spain without having to show a negative COVID-19 test result.
This new protocol followed the European Union’s decision to ease restrictions for non-essential travel from “third” countries – i.e. outside the EU. Currently, this only applies to countries considered epidemiologically “safe”: Australia, China (if reciprocated), Israel, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand – with a decision on Japan pending.
From 7 June, tourists from other countries still without complete free movement – including the United States – will be able to enter Spain if they have a certificate proving they have had their last recommended dose of a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency or World Health Organisation.
Travellers from the EU will also be permitted to enter Spain without testing requirements if they are from a country with “green” status in accordance with European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control guidelines. If travelling from “orange” “red” or “dark red” countries, they will still be required to have a PCR test before leaving home or, from 7 June, a completed vaccination dose approved by the EMA or WHO.
Increased UK Air Connections with Murcia
So what is the current situation with flights at Corvera Airport Murcia?
A Ryanair flight from Manchester was the first to land in Corvera (Friday 21 May) after a six-month international hiatus. According to the regional ministry of tourism, this was to be followed by further Ryanair flights linking Murcia directly with Birmingham, Bournemouth and Glasgow.
EasyJet also started rescheduling flights from Gatwick and Bristol, while TUI connects Corvera Airport Murcia with Brussels, Antwerp and Bruges. Nationally, there are Volotea flights scheduled for Asturias and Menorca, Vueling services for Bilbao, Santander and Barcelona, and Binter connections between Murcia and Gran Canaria.
In total, reports the ministry, the airport is expected to service between 30 and 45 weekly operations this summer.
For up-to-date information about flights at Corvera Airport Murcia, click here.
