BA boss tells PM: Give us our holidays

BORIS Johnson was last night urged by the boss of British Airways to capitalise on the UK’s world-beating vaccine rollout to end ‘heart-breaking’ restrictions on foreign travel.

BA chief executive Sean Doyle called for Britons who have had a vaccine to be able to fly – along with those who have not had a jab but can demonstrate a negative test result.

He said: ‘We know people want to travel, we know countries want to accept travellers and we believe with testing, vaccination and technology, we can enable that in a way that is seamless and frictionless and allows the industry to get back on its feet again.

‘I hear many heartbreaking stories of people who haven’t been able to visit frail and elderly parents overseas over the course of the last 12 months.’ Non-essential international travel is banned until May 17, with Ministers locked in discussions about whether to allow the resumption of foreign holidays at that point.

Spain, Cyprus and Greece hope to welcome back vaccinated Britons as early as May 1, while Turkey has said they would be welcome even if they have not had the jab.

But No10’s scientific advisers are concerned about the risks of letting Britons leave the country to holiday in nations in the grip of mutant strains.

BA will hold off announcing its summer flying schedule until the Prime Minister sets out the Government’s plans.

The airline is set to allow passengers to upload vaccine certificates and test results when booking flights.

A spokesman for Virgin Atlantic said: ‘It is critical for the Government to provide a clear path for the restart of international travel.’