O’LEARY: WE’RE ALL GOING ON A SUMMER HOLIDAY...

SUMMER holidays in Europe are likely to go ahead later this year, thanks to the Covid-19 vaccines, Michael O’Leary has said. The Ryanair boss said a smooth roll-out of the three vaccines would allow trips abroad with ‘few restrictions’. It is a boost to Irish sun-seekers hoping for a foreign getaway this summer, after holidays were cancelled last year due to the multiple travel restrictions and bans introduced because of the pandemic. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme yesterday, Mr O’Leary said: ‘We are taking significant bookings from people booking holidays this summer. ‘There is a huge upward spike at the end of the third wave. I think the vaccine is the solution to this.’ He said it was too early to say whether trips could get under way by Easter, but added: ‘Certainly by the summer, by the time we get to the school holidays, we’ll see few restrictions across Europe because of the roll- out of these vaccines.’

Other operators have also reported healthy booking numbers for the summer months.

The Ryanair boss questioned why governments would seek to restrict the movements of people after all of the high-risk groups, such as those in nursing homes, are vaccinated.

He also revealed the depths of cuts to his airline’s flight schedule from the UK and Ireland due to the latest lockdowns and new pre-flight Covid test requirements.

He said that from January 21 the company would be running ‘around ten or 20 flights a day’ compared to the ‘normal 2,000’.

It is understood that holidays to the continent could rely on how quickly vaccines are rolled out. Travel could be affected by countries’ varying vaccination rates, if it is felt not enough people in the host nation, or travellers coming from a certain area, have been protected.