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Spain's Balearic Islands will be moved to the amber list on Monday, while Bulgaria, Hong Kong, Croatia and Taiwan have been upgraded to green-list travel status

The summer holiday plans of thousands lie in ruins this morning, with people cancelling their planned trips to the Balearic Islands after they were axed from the green list while the cost of flights back from Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca soared nine-fold after last night's announcement.

Travel experts, MPs and holidaymakers slammed Transport Secretary Grant Shapp's 'bitterly disappointing' decision to demote the archipelago to the amber list of foreign destinations this morning, after the islands enjoyed quarantine-free travel status for just two weeks.

Furious Twitter users accused the Government of 'taking the pi**' and complained there is 'absolutely no point going abroad' until next year. One wrote: 'We're staying in the UK this year. We decided to not even try to go abroad, too much hassle, quarantines etc... and way too expensive'. 

British holidaymakers currently in Spain's Balearic Islands are now scrambling back to the UK to beat the latest quarantine deadline at 4am on Monday, July 19 - when most legal restrictions imposed during the pandemic are due to be scrapped on England's so-called 'Freedom Day'.

Flight prices from the archipelago have soared as much as nine times, with budget airline Ryanair's morning and evening trips from Palma de Mallorca to Manchester Airport rocketing from just £12 at the start of yesterday to nearly £110 an hour before Mr Shapps' announcement.

Saturday's mid-afternoon British Airway flight from Ibiza to London Heathrow was priced at around £115. Within two hours, tickets for the same journey had increased to £220 - a 92 per cent increase. On the last easyJet flight from Menorca to Gatwick before the deadline, the last three seats on the passenger carrier cost £118 - around two-thirds more than the preannouncement fare, the Independent reports.

However, holiday operators TUI UK and Jet2 Holidays both told MailOnline that they are not cancelling trips to  Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca, insisting that the announcement 'changes nothing whatsoever'.

Double-vaccinated people will still be able to return from the Balearic Islands quarantine free, even though they are on the amber list, when travel rules change on Monday. But the move will be a blow to younger holidaymakers who are not yet fully jabbed and will now have to quarantine on their return to the UK or cancel their booking altogether.

One unvaccinated couple told MailOnline they would have to cancel their trip to Ibiza to reunite with their grandchildren for the first time since the pandemic began, now that self-isolation rules for returning travellers are being re-imposed on the Balearics.

Another family who are due to fly to Menorca on Friday revealed that they were now stuck in limbo with travel agents and airlines refusing to offer refunds. Others who flew out from Gatwick said they were already considering cutting their holidays short to bypass the 10-day home quarantine.

Arriving back after Monday would also mean having to shell out as much as another £100 for an extra post-arrival Covid test. 

Though Bulgaria and Hong Kong have been fully downgraded to the green list, Croatia and Taiwan are on what's known as the 'green watch list' which means they can be reverted back to amber at any moment. Those looking for a quick switch from the Balearics could face an uphill battle, with red tape potentially getting in the way of a trip to Croatia and Bulgaria.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is yet to change its travel guidance - which currently advises against all but non-essential travel - in line with the Government's travel list. And while the advice remains unchanged, travel experts say tour operators will not offer packages, while insurances will be invalid. 

Industry experts have slammed the Government's 'on again, off again' decision-making. Henry Smith, Tory chairman of the All-Party Future of Aviation Group, said the move is 'creating huge uncertainty in the sector and for the millions of people desperate for a summer holiday'.

Speaking to MailOnline, he warned of a jobs bloodbath, arguing that the move to axe popular holiday destinations off the so-called green list 'is likely to create huge trouble for the industry, and could lead to signifcant unemployment in the coming weeks and months'. 

EasyJet CEO Johan Lundgren accused the Government of a 'double standard where (foreign) travel is treated differently to the domestic economy'. Pointing out that Covid-19 cases in the UK are rising while most of Europe's infections remain lower, he said: 'So we cannot understand why the Government is going to allow people to go to a nightclub - without a mask or social distancing - and yet is not comfortable with people going to the beaches of Europe, where the infection rates are lower than in the UK.'  

In other coronavirus developments:

• A British couple were turned away from travelling to see their son in Malta after they were unknowingly given an Indian-made version of the AstraZeneca vaccine;
• Mask rules descended further into chaos as Grant Shapps backed Sadiq Khan keeping them compulsory on the Tube, buses and taxis in London — even though they are not required on trains from 'Freedom Day';
• Business leaders criticised the Government for 'mixed messages' over returning to the office ahead of the long-standing official 'work from home' order being scrapped in just five days' time;
• Ministers were accused of using nightclubs as a proxy weapon to drive up youth coronavirus jab rates amid a furious row over Covid passports;
• Ed Sheeran has been forced to quarantine for a second time after the singer was notified that he had come into contact with a Covid case;
• A major Covid outbreak has struck a Royal Navy flotilla including 100 crew of the flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth after sailors allegedly went partying in Cyprus

The summer holiday plans of thousands lie in ruins this morning, with people cancelling their planned trips to the Balearic Islands after they were axed from the green list while the cost of flights back from Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca soared nine-fold after last night's announcement

Furious Twitter users accused the Government of 'taking the pi**' and complained there is 'absolutely no point going abroad' until next year. One wrote: 'We're staying in the UK this year. We decided to not even try to go abroad, too much hassle, quarantines etc... and way too expensive'

British favourites Ibiza, Majorca (pictured) and Menorca have all been upgraded to the amber list amid surging infection numbers across the archipelago

But tourist hotspots Croatia (pictured) and Bulgaria have been given the green-light, along with Hong Kong and Taiwan. Bulgaria and Hong Kong have been full downgraded to the green list but Croatia and Taiwan are on what's known as the 'green watch list' which means they can be reverted back to amber at any moment

Mr Shapps showed no sympathy for the thousands of Britons who could be affected by the sudden change to the travel list, telling them that uncertainty was a 'fact of life'. He said the reason the Balearics had been demoted to the Amber List was because Covid case rates there had more than doubled. 

He added: 'When people book, particularly to a green watchlist country, you need to make sure you can get your money back. For some - children, those under 18 plus people who have been double vaccinated - you won't have to quarantine. Treat it as though it is still a green country. But it will mean some people... will have to come home.' 

However, the move was slammed by travel experts this morning. Tory MP Mr Smith said: 'I think it's incredibly disappointing, I would have liked to have seen the Government adding more countries onto the green list rather than removing them. I think we should be much more concerned with restarting international travel than we are, particularly as we move into the summer period.

'There are two reasons for this. The first is the success of the vaccination roll-out, with even under-18s being offered the jab. The Government should be moving to allow people to head abroad without restrictions if they are jabbed because the vaccines significantly reduce the risk of serious illness.

'The second is that the travel sector has been absolutely devastated by months of restrictions and this Government's on again, off again attitude to international travel. We need a period of solid summer holidaying now to allow the industry to begin recovering from the effects of the pandemic.

'Instead, the Government is creating an environment of tremendous uncertainty which is making it practically impossible for travel firms to operate. They need time to be able to adapt to any changes which are introduced.

'I think if we are not careful, this on again, off again policy is likely to create huge trouble for the industry, and could lead to significant unemployment in the coming weeks and months.'

Dr Steven Freudmann, former President of ABTA - The Travel Association, told MailOnline: 'It's bitterly disappointing. Just two countries on the amber list currently have higher rates of infection than the UK.

'It's safer to go to most Amber list countries than it is to take a holiday in the UK. Between 20 May and the end of June not a single variant of concern was detected from any passenger returning from one of the amber list countries.'

Virginia Messina, senior vice president for the World Tourism Trade Council, told MailOnline: 'This will throw summer holidays into disarray for tens of thousands of people. Businesses given the lifeline of holidays to the Balearics will also be left floundering as bookings collapse and customers clamour for refunds, piling on further financial pressure. 

'There may be some good news with Croatia and Bulgaria moving up the scale and being added to the green list. But the overall impact is one of confusion, which will only deter more Brits from holidaying abroad as the summer season slips away.'    

One woman, who had planned to fly to Ibiza this summer to see her sons with her husband, told MailOnline she was already planning to cancel her trip to the Balearic Islands. She said: 'My partner and I will have to cancel our holidays if Ibiza is going on the amber list.

'My sons are living there and I haven't seen them for two years, now we planned our holidays there so we could spend time with him. I haven't seen my sons and my grandchildren for so long time that it will kill me straight away if they don't allow us to travel and we are going into lockdown again. We have a new baby girl on the family and I'm afraid I won't be allowed to meet her.'    

Infections were already shooting upwards before the archipelago was added to No10's 'green list' on June 30. But case numbers have continued to spiral following the influx on British holidaymakers. A graph shows how the infection rate — the number of cases spotted per every 100,000 people over the course of a week — in the Balearic islands has changed over time

Croatia has been downgraded to the green list. Britain is recording almost 500 Covid cases per million people currently compared to Croatia's 20

Faith Wheeler, 42, from Brighton is going to Ibiza to visit a friend. She booked her flights last week when the country was being battered with rain. Ms Wheeler (left) said: 'If the rules change, I don't care - I'm going anyway. 'I've got all the insurance if it gets cancelled or if I get covid out there and have to stay'. Samuel Helps, 19, and girlfriend Hannah Simons, 19, from Bromley are going to Menorca for a week. The couple (pictured together right) decided to take a chance and booked a last minute package deal. 'We're hoping there won't be any changes,' warehouse manager Samuel said

Alex James, 33, and Verity Blair, 34, from Haslemere in Surrey, with their twins Penelope (left) and Sofia (right)

The Spanish authorities have report a sharp increase in coronavirus cases in the Balearics over recent weeks

British tourists took to Twitter to voice their frustration at the chopping and changing of travel restrictions yesterday

Amelia Ellis, 22, and Ben Randall, 23, were flying to green list Gibraltar from Gatwick and heading on to join her family on the Costa del Sol.

Ms Ellis, who has only had her first Covid jab, told MailOnline: 'I'd rather not have to isolate on the way back but if we have to then I'll work from home like I have been anyway. We might try to get home before the deadline if we have to.'   

Cases were already shooting upwards before the archipelago was even added to No10's 'green list' on June 30. But they have continued to spiral following the influx of British holidaymakers.

Spanish newspapers have pointed the finger at young Spaniards travelling to the islands, and British experts say there is no proof yet that the decision to put Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca on the green list is to blame for the rise in cases.

Those travelling to amber listed countries, such as mainland Spain, have to self-isolate for 10 days on their return to England. However, as of July 19 the requirement to quarantine will be scrapped for the fully vaccinated and those aged under 18 - but thousands of young adults are not yet eligible for their second jab. 

Originally, there was a suggestion that Britons who could show a positive antibody test - which shows previous infection and implies immunity - would be granted similar freedoms to those who are jabbed.

On her trip to Ibiza, she added: 'Now it will not be possible due my partner not having enough available days to do quarantine because his company forced him to take half of his holidays before 30th of June.'

A family of four who are planning to go to Mallorca next week said they are 'prepared the jump through necessary hoops' after booking a last-minute trip to the island when their break to Portugal was cancelled.

Verity Blair, 34, a sales executive from Haslemere in Surrey, and her partner Alex James, 33, have both had one Covid-19 jab each and are still going to travel to Mallorca on Tuesday even if it goes onto the amber list, and then self-isolate for 10 days once home.

Ms Blair - who has twins Penelope and Sofia with Mr James - works for an American company with no UK office, so it will not have an impact on her job.

She told MailOnline this morning: 'At this stage, we are prepared the jump through necessary hoops to enjoy our first family holiday.

'We booked to go to Portugal a year ago before the girls had even arrived and were so excited about having a holiday with them, not thinking that a whole year on we would need to worry about restrictions.

'However, when it became clear about a week ago that we wouldn't be able to go to Portugal owing to their restrictions, we decided to book a last minute trip to Mallorca.

'We picked Mallorca because it was on the green list, knowing that might change - but even if it changes to amber, we won't mind isolating when we get home.

'As we have become so used to that over the last 16 months, it feels like a small price to pay for a week away in the sunshine.

'Taking a holiday at home just wouldn't be the same, and when we explored holidaying in the UK it was nearly impossible to book something last minute, and what was left would have cost the same as getting abroad.

'Luckily isolating at home won't affect us work wise, as my company recently announced that we will never be required to work from an office again, and so will always enjoy the flexibility of working from home.' 

Samuel Helps, 19, and girlfriend Hannah Simons, 19, from Bromley flew to Menorca from Gatwick this morning for a seven-day holiday. They decided to take a chance and booked a last minute package deal. Both are double jabbed and are hopeful this will mean they are not caught out by any rule changes. 

'We should be safe while we are out there and we are protected if the rules change, we have all the insurance,' care home worker Ms Bromley said. 'Because it's a package we are pretty well covered if anything does change.'

Faith Wheeler, from Brighton is going to Ibiza to visit a friend. She booked her flights last week when the country was being battered with rain.

The 42-year-old marketing director said: 'I've been double jabbed since April. I'm flying back on Sunday, so hopefully things won't change before then. If the rules change, I don't care - I'm going anyway. I've got all the insurance if it gets cancelled or if I get covid out there and have to stay.' 

Mr Shapps showed no sympathy for Britons facing growing uncertainty during a round of interviews this morning. He told BBC Breakfast: 'We review these every three weeks. I hope we have made very clear to everybody when booking trips at the moment there is always the chance that countries will move around. 

'Some countries may go to the red list, some countries may go to the green, but some may move the other way to the amber list. It is a fact of life that they will continue to move around as the virus continues to develop and change globally.'

However industry groups criticised the move, with trade association ABTA said: 'The decision to move the Balearic Islands to the amber list is a step back for the travel industry. 

'Thousands of travel jobs and businesses are in desperate need of a successful summer season, and this further emphasises the urgent need for tailored financial support for a sector that has struggled to make any meaningful revenue for almost 18 months now.'

Tim Alderslade, head of the umbrella body Airlines UK, said: 'While the vaccination programme is permitting a full reopening of the domestic economy, international travel between safe countries with low infections and high vaccination rates is still portrayed as a serious danger to public health.  Moving countries between tiers is shattering consumer trust.' 

Grant Shapps has issued a stark warning to holidaymakers amid signs tourist favourites including Ibiza are set to be upgraded to the 'amber list'

Meanwhile, Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, criticised the Government's decision making as 'opaque', adding: 'It's a totally unpredictable list of changes which won't help most consumers. 

'You have to quarantine on arrival in Hong Kong for 21 days, so rules out travel there for most people. The Balearics were one of the last green options for those not fully-jabbed to be able to get away.'

'Overall, this revision supports the view that decision-making is opaque, complex for consumers to understand and ignores the many countries which should be on a wider green list.'

Francina Armengol, president of the islands, said ministers should look beyond infection rates, adding: 'We are experiencing a high level of contagion, but many are not having to be admitted to hospital because the most vulnerable are double vaccinated.' 

The Transport Secretary also said Brits who received doses of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine made in India should not be prevented from travelling, after a British couple given the jab were turned away from travelling to see their son in Malta.  

Steve and Glenda Hardy, who received doses of the vaccine in March, were barred from flying by staff working for travel operator TUI at Manchester Airport on Friday. The retired couple, from Hull, were trying to visit their son, who they have not seen for over a year.

Mr Shapps told BBC Breakfast the Government will take up the issue with authorities in Malta, adding: 'It is not right and it shouldn't be happening.'

Malta last night confirmed UK residents given AstraZeneca vaccines made in India would be allowed in after days of confusion.

The Mediterranean archipelago had banned travellers inoculated with jabs from the Serum Institute of India.

But it U-turned after Transport Secretary Grant Schapps appeared on television and threatened a confrontation with Maltese officials while insisting the jabs were 'absolutely the same product' as those made in the UK.

Hours later, Malta issued an update stating it would accept anyone from Britain with a 'full course of vaccination with 14 days after last dose'.

A decision on putting the Balearic islands back on the amber list could come this afternoon as the government carries out its three-weekly review of the traffic light system. 

'It's all still up for discussion, but the figures aren't great which is why it was on the watch list in the first place,' a source told The Sun. 

Spanish media report that health officials have advised students living on the mainland to cancel trips to the islands because 'the risk of transmission in the same environment where the cases are occurring is high'.

More than 1,000 infections have been linked to young adults returning from Mallorca, El Pais claims. 

NHS England figures show another 124,905 second doses have been dished out, bringing the total number of Brits jabbed to 35.1million, or 66.6 per cent

The infection rate across the group of islands — how many cases are spotted in a week for every 100,000 residents — has risen fourteen-fold from a low of 20 in mid-June to around 280 on July 13.

Dr Simon Clarke, an infectious disease expert at the University of Reading, told MailOnline that it was too early to blame British holidaymakers for the spike.

He said: 'Not very many people have been going to the Balearics until recently, and certainly there has been upset among people when people from places like Germany have been allowed to go to the Balearics while we haven't.

'Just because the UK and Balearics are going up in terms of case numbers it doesnt mean that they are linked, they might be it is possible, but there is no proof yet that they are linked.' 

He added that it was possible the explosion in cases could have been fuelled by visitors from other countries. 

Britons aged 12 or over must have either proof of a negative test 48 hours prior to arrival, or proof of being fully vaccinated at least 14 days beforehand.  

British tourists took to Twitter to voice their frustration, with Rosie Scott from Brentwood in Essex saying: 'Changing holiday from Crete to Israel to Crete to green list Mallorca... Mallorca now set to go amber. This is utter bulls***.'

Cara Hooton from Bristol tweeted: '@BorisJohnson, pls don't ruin my Ibiza holiday I really need this. Love cara x'

Another potential holidaymaker tweeted: 'Holiday to Turkey cancelled so started looking at Mallorca and now it's looking likely it'll go on the amber list... No holiday this year then.'

And Brandon Hale said: 'Flying to Ibiza tomorrow. All tests are back negative - looks like it will be going back to amber. Are people still going to go? Or cancel? We're still going.'

The UK is battling its own summer spike in cases, with a further 36,660 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases reported as of 9am on Tuesday.

Government data also recorded a further 50 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus as of Tuesday – the highest day-on-day increase since April 9 – taking the country's total to 128,481. 

People arriving in the UK from a red-list location must spend 11 nights at a quarantine hotel, at a cost of £1,750 for solo travellers.