Brittany Ferries hits out at travel status of its destinations
CROSS-CHANNEL transporter Brittany Ferries says it is pleased the Government is allowing foreign holidays again – but wants regular reviews of the new “traffic light” system after France and Spain were put on the “amber list”.
The company, which sails to the continent from Plymouth, Poole and Portsmouth, said it was pleased France and Spain avoided being on the “red list” of nations, which are under the most stringent restrictions.
But it said the two countries should be reclassified as “green” within weeks and that regular reviews of the list are “imperative”.
Christophe Mathieu, Brittany Ferries’ chief executive, said: “We welcome clarity on the traffic light framework for international travel and understand why France and Spain have been put on the amber list.
“However, we urge regular review as the situation is improving rapidly on the continent. Thanks to a downward trend in Covid cases and improving vaccination rates, we fully expect France and Spain to be reclassified as green countries in the weeks ahead.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the new “traffic light” system for travel abroad during a Government coronavirus briefing.
Under the new rules, countries are rated green, amber or red depending on their Covid infection risk.
The list of green countries will have the fewest travel restrictions when the rules come into effect on
May 17. Travellers to countries rated green will not need to isolate on their return, but they will need to take a Covid test before and after their trip.
People in England can visit Portugal, Gibraltar and Israel from May 17 without self-isolating on their return, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced.
They are the only popular summer short-haul destinations out of 12 countries and territories on the Government’s new green list for travel.
The green list also consists of Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, Iceland and the Faroe Islands and the Falklands.
Arrivals from amber countries will need to take a pre-departure test, fill in a locator form, and quarantine at home for up to 10 days, with regular testing to see if they are free of the virus and can go out.
Red-list countries have the strictest rules, with only UK or Irish nationals, or UK residents, allowed to return – and they must pay for a 10-day stay in a Government quarantine hotel.
Turkey, the Maldives and Nepal have been added to the red list. People returning from those countries after 4am on Wednesday will be required to stay in a quarantine hotel for 11 nights at a cost of £1,750 for solo travellers.
The DfT also announced that from May 17, people who have had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine will be able to use the NHS app to demonstrate their status.