Flight sales boom after easing of restrictions
BOOKINGS RISE, BUT WANTS GOVERNMENT TO
AIRPORT SAYS
THE scrapping of the amber list and reduced requirement for holiday Covid-19 tests have led to a boom in flight bookings.
Companies including Jet2, which operates from East Midlands Airport, have said there have been many people booking for autumn sun after the changes to the travel rules.
All amber and green countries are now considered safe destinations and while red countries remain restricted, several popular destinations including Turkey and Egypt are to be moved off the list.
Meanwhile, expensive PCR tests and pre-departure tests will no longer be necessary for anyone who has been fully vaccinated from October 4.
East Midlands Airport boss Charlie Cornish said: “The simplification of the UK’s international travel system, including doing away with pre-departure tests and switching to lateral flow on arrival, will make it easier and cheaper for people to travel abroad.
“For many months, the recovery of UK aviation has lagged behind the rest of Europe.
“The changes announced will help to close that gap by encouraging more people to book foreign travel.
“For as long as vaccinated travellers have to pay for tests, the recovery of one of the UK’s major industries will be held back.
“The government must now find a way to give people back the freedom to travel without the barrier of testing.”
CUT TESTING
Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2, said: “We have seen demand step up over the past few days and there has been an immediate and massive surge in bookings for flights and package holidays on the back of this welcome news for holidaymakers in England.
“Although it has been a long time coming, we are extremely pleased the government has finally committed to reopening international travel properly.
“Holidaymakers will be frustrated these changes come too late for the peak summer holiday period, but we know how delighted they will be that their holidays are no longer subject to a set of restrictions that are out of step with other areas of everyday life.
“Having to take a pre-departure test in resort, along with an expensive PCR test after returning to the UK, has unfairly penalised hardworking customers and families for far too long.
“Although the removal of these burdens is a step in the right direction, more can still be done.
“The traffic light system has been confusing and completely unfit for purpose since day one. We welcome a new approach which is easy for everyone to understand and provides certainty.”