Hol of a wait!

Airlines in limbo over flight risks

THOUSANDS of families’ holiday plans were thrown into chaos last night when an airline boss grounded planes until June 23.

Jet2 scrapped all flights for at least two months blaming a lack of Government guidance over where sunseekers can go. Non-business foreign travel is expected to resume on May 17. But Jet2 executive Steve Heapy said: “We are extremely disappointed at the lack of clarity and detail.

“After several weeks exploring how to restart international travel, with substantial assistance and input from the industry, the framework lacks any rigorous detail about how to get international travel going again.

“In fact, the framework is virtually the same as six months ago. We still do not know when we can start to fly, where we can fly to and the availability and cost of testing.

“Rather than answering questions, the framework leaves everyone asking more.

“Because of the continued uncertainty, it is with a heavy heart that we have taken the decision to extend the suspension of flights and holidays up to and including

June 23.”

Transport

Secretary

Grant Shapps said the

Government’s traffic light scheme would grade places green, amber or red depending on their Covid risk.

But he said it was “too early” to categorise countries – leaving tour operators unable to plan flights and holidays.

Mr Shapps also ordered private testing firms to slash the cost of the required lab-based

Covid checks, calling the price

“a concern”. Travel from “green” countries will be quarantine-free with people taking one test after flying home rather than the current two. But airline bosses said the requirement to take a £120 PCR test could mean only wealthy people can afford to go on holiday abroad.

Easyjet chief executive Johan Lundgren said the travel sector was being held to a different standard than other parts of the economy – which are operating on cheap lateral flow tests.

One Whitehall source said Greece could make it onto the green list next month along with the US, Gibraltar, Malta and much of the Caribbean.

But sources said: “There are no guarantees. If you’re going to book, make sure you can get your cash back if the traffic lights change.’’