From the Guardian --------------------------------Shares in...

From the Guardian
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Shares in UKtravel and hospitality buoyant in response to roadmap

UK travel and hospitality companies set to benefit from the easing ofCovid restrictions rallied on the London stock market after Boris Johnson set out thegovernment’s roadmap for ending lockdown in England.

Against a backdrop of rising hopes for a rapid economic recovery fromthe worst recession for more than 300 years, shares in companies among thehardest hit by lockdown, including airlines, travel firms, and operators ofretail, food and drink outlets at train stations, recorded the biggest gainsamid growing hopes for a fast return to relative normality.

Shares in airlines and travel firms rose after a surge in holiday bookings onMonday night after Johnson’s announcement of a possible return to international travel from 17 May, subject to a government review .

EasyJet said flight bookings from the UK jumped 337% and package holidaybookings surged 630% compared with a week earlier, with Málaga, Alicante andPalma in Spain, Faro in Portugal and the Greek island of Crete among the topdestinations. August breaks were the most popular, followed by July andSeptember.

The budget airline ended the day up 4.5%, while the holiday travel firmTUI was up 3.5%. British Airways’ owner International Airlines Group rose byalmost 2%.

Cineworld gained 9.5% on hopes that cinemas will reopen inmid-May, as outlined by Johnson, while SSP Group soared 17% as investors bet on a pick-up in sales at its Upper Crust and Caffè Ritazza stores once holidaymakers and commuters return to airports and railway stations. Bingo specialist Rank Group was up 6%.