HEALTH minister Edward Argar is hopeful people will be able to go on holiday this year - but no dates have been set.
Newcastle airport will re-open next week for limited passenger flights, while strict safety rules will be in place.
But speaking on Wednesday, Mr Argar said it will be some time before the British public could holiday abroad.
"I'm not going to say a particular date on when that might happen because we will have to be guided by how the disease behaves, controlling any risk of a second wave and controlling the disease," he said.
"I hope that people will be able to go on holiday at some point this year, but I can't make that promise and because I have to be cautious and go with the science and I don't have that forward view yet of how a second wave or otherwise might behave."
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