We won’t require proof of vaccine, says Ryanair

A REQUIREMENT for air passengers to have a Covid vaccine to fly is ‘not really relevant’ for short-haul flights in Europe, Ryanair has said.

Chief executive Eddie Wilson said Europe will be an ‘entirely different landscape’ next year compared to nations that only have to consider their own border rules.

He was speaking after the head of Australian airline Qantas Alan Joyce announced that it is likely passengers would need proof of a vaccination jab before boarding international flights when they resume.

Dubliner Mr Joyce said he believes a vaccine will be a ‘necessity’ for passengers flying in and out of Australia.

Mr Wilson responded yesterday, saying that such a plan would be more effective in Australia, as one of the only ways to get there is via air travel.

He suggested that if someone on the European mainland failed to get a vaccine for a flight, they could just cross borders by train or car.

He said: ‘With Qantas, they’re a long-haul operator – vaccinations in that context are really for long haul.

‘With short haul and freedom of movement of people in Europe... I think we’ll see an entirely different landscape come spring and early summer, not really relevant for short haul and European travel.’

Mr Wilson said Australia is a ‘long way from everywhere’, but Europe has a large number of much smaller countries close together.

‘In Paris, if you were to choose no vaccination... you’d just get a train instead,’ he said.

In terms of Christmas travel this year, Mr Wilson said Ryanair will be putting on around 40 extra flights in the week or so leading up to Christmas Day.

‘We’ve got extra demand, people are starting to travel. In November people were cutting schedules everywhere. But for Christmas I think people are starting to travel again,’ he told

Newstalk radio yesterday.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, of the National Public Health Emergency Team, and senior ministers have encouraged people not to travel home to I r e l and f r om abroad t hi s Christmas.

However, Mr Wilson said people should look at the EU traffic-light system. He encouraged anyone travelling from status ‘ orange’ countries to take a coronavirus test three days before they were due to fly.

The Ryanair boss claimed international travel ‘ gets a bad rap’ from the likes of Nphet, but said he believes people coming home for Chri s t mas wi l l act responsibly.

When international air travel does finally return, people will have to comply with strict new rules to fly, Mr Joyce of Quantas also warned this week.

From anklet bracelets to DNA tests, sewage testing on planes and mandatory vaccinations, overseas travel will never be the same again, he forecasted.

‘For international travellers, we will ask people to have a vaccination before they get on the aircraft. Certainly, for international visitors coming out and people leaving the country we think that’s a necessity,’ he said.

40 extra Ryanair flights are being put on for Christmas