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Summary
- The CEOs of major airlines and holiday firms wrote to PM Boris Johnson over their concern on travel guideline.
- The CEOs wrote that they understand the risk associated with the Indian variant of COVID-19 but urged Boris Johnson to rely on the success of UK’s vaccination program.
UK airlines and holiday firms are eyeing a hard time ahead due to the confusing travel guidelines issued regarding foreign travel on 17 May. This new system for foreign travel, which is in the form of traffic lights signal, comprising the green list, red list, and amber list is creating confusion along with a contrasting statement made by the UK PM, Boris Johnson.
Bosses of major airlines in the country, EasyJet (LON: EZJ), British Airways, Ryanair (LON:RYA), Jet2 (LON:JET2) and many others, wrote to the PM to show how disappointed they felt with his ‘stay at home’ appeal to Britons rather than holidaying abroad, considering travelling is dangerous. The CEOs wrote that they understand the risk associated with the Indian variant of COVID-19 but urged Boris Johnson to rely on the success of the UK’s vaccination program.
They added that the comment made by UK’s PM has moved the goalposts and will adversely impact the purpose of the risk-based traffic light system. CEOs demanded a quick extension for the green list with the inclusion of the US, the Caribbean and other European hotspots, showing concerns that their neighbours are moving ahead, leaving Britons behind.
The letter also attacked the UK government by saying that the government is not looking for a meaningful start this summer and may fail to achieve desired success for UK business as customers resist making travel plans looking at the scenario.
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As per the latest data, many amber list countries have a significant level of vaccination, which reduces the number of cases to less than 1% of arrivals testing positive. Furthermore, none of these showed signs of the concerned COVID variant yet, so the CEOs added that they should be added in green.
Johan Lundgren, Chief executive of Easyjet, said the amber list has many countries which should be included in the green list. The green list is now a guessing game, not supported by any data or firm evidence, consequently making it difficult for the operators to plan,
Voicing a similar concern, Steve Heapy, Jet2holidays CEO said, we cannot decide due to two conflicting information and separate lists are quite confusing.
The letter added that UK’s robust testing system helps the country in assessing the inbound risk associated with medium and higher risk countries. CEOs urged to have faith in the established framework and end confusions for travellers with these safety filters.
Also read: Travel Industry seeks government’s support for relief
Present Guidelines
As per guidelines released on 17 May, while countries on the green list are free to travel in England, rules for Amber list countries are stringent. Visitors coming from there are only allowed to visit people in England if they are accompanied by a negative covid report (conducted in the last 72 hours) and are ready to quarantine themselves for ten days. Apart from this, they need to bear the cost of the mandatory covid test, conducted on the second and eighth day for ten days quarantine period. However, as per their wishl, they may go for a test on the fifth day, and on getting a negative report, the person will be free from quarantine.
At the same time, people coming from the red list countries will not be allowed to enter England. If they do, they must mandatorily quarantine themselves in a £1,750 per day, government-mandated hotel for ten days.
The next list for the green countries will be out next month, and changes will be reviewed and implemented every three weeks unless some emergencies occur and require acting faster to protect public health.
