British industry bosses have urged further clarity on when other holiday destinations could be added to the quarantine-free green list amid criticism the government had been too cautious in its approach to unlocking international travel.
Portugal, Gibraltar and Israel are among just 12 destinations that will be on the green list from May 17 – with some countries on the list still not accepting holidaymakers.
United Kingdom Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, said the removal of the ban on international leisure travel was “necessarily cautious,” but sector leaders warned it could “delay the industry’s recovery.”
People returning to England from a green destination from May 17 will not be required to self-isolate and are only required to take one post-arrival coronavirus test. The green list also features several remote British Overseas Territories and destinations where visits are heavily restricted, such as Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei and the Faroe Islands.
EasyJet boss Johan Lundgren said, “The decision to put so few European countries into the green tier is simply not justified by the data or the science and is inconsistent with the approach to reopen the domestic economy.”
He added, “So, we call on the government to provide transparency on decision-making and clarity on when we can expect other European countries to join the green list so that consumers and airlines alike can plan for this summer.”
Airlines U.K., an industry body that represents British carriers, said the government must make “major additions” to the green list at the next review point in three weeks.
Chief executive Tim Alderslade said, “This is a missed opportunity and, with so few countries making it on to the green list, represents a reopening of air travel in name only. By contrast, the EU has said vaccinated people will be able to travel without restrictions, which leaves the U.K. at risk of falling behind and not opening up…