Airport chiefs demand simpler overseas travel system
EAST Midlands Airport is calling for a more simplified travel system as August’s passenger numbers slumped to 26 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
It is calling on the government to introduce a simplified two-tier system for international travel removing the chaos of the traffic light system - and remove mandatory testing for fully vaccinated arrivals from countries without new Covid-19 variants.
It comes as new data revealed the extent to which the UK aviation sector is slipping further behind in its recovery and MAG, the UK’S largest airport group, which owns and operates East Midlands, Manchester and London Stansted airports, reported its passenger numbers for August were 68.1 per cent down on the same month in 2019.
Figures also show that East Midlands Airport served just 251,286 passengers between June and August this year, compared with 1.4 million passengers over the same period in 2019.
This sluggish recovery is despite more than 80 per cent of the adult population being double-vaccinated, compared to a year earlier when the immunisation programme was not even under way. ONS data from June showed aviation remains the worst hit UK sector, with activity still more than 90 per cent down on pre-pandemic levels, compared to food and entertainment sectors which have seen a steady increase in business over recent months.
MAG says the UK’S traffic light system must be reformed urgently – and ahead of the scheduled October 1 review date – to protect the
travel sector through the winter season and restore consumer confidence now for bookings next summer.
It has called on the Government to bring in a simplified two-tier system and remove mandatory testing requirements for fully vaccinated arrivals from countries without new, concerning Covid-19 variants.
MAG chief executive Charlie Cornish said: “Fully-vaccinated British residents can only look on in envy as people across Europe enjoy the freedom to travel easily to low-risk holiday destinations.
“With restrictions almost entirely removed across the UK, now is the time to give people back those freedoms to explore, relax and visit loved ones.
“The UK’S over-cautious and unnecessarily complex traffic light system is confusing to customers and places needless barriers in the way of them booking travel.
“The impact that is having on our sector is clear, with traffic levels recovering at a much greater rate across Europe than here in the UK.
“Meanwhile, the rest of the economy has been opened-up to those who are double-jabbed, leaving travel as the only sector whose recovery is being held back for no logical reason.
“A simpler, more sensible approach to international travel must be adopted as soon as possible.”