Travel news live: Jet2 cancels holidays and flights amid uncertainty
Wait ‘two or three weeks’ to book foreign holidays, Grant Shapps says
The government today confirmed that summer holidays abroad can go ahead from England.
“International travel could resume from 17 May at the earliest in an accessible and affordable way,” the government says as it publishes its second Global Travel Taskforce report.
All travel will be subject to a traffic light system, in which countries are classified as green, amber or red. Only travellers from green nations will be exempt from quarantine, although will still need to present a test on arrival and take a PCR test on day two.
Countries will be assigned a colour in early May, the government says.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the UK Chamber of Shipping have said they “welcome” the government’s announcement.
“We welcome today’s announcement to restart international cruises alongside the wider resumption of international travel, in line with the ‘traffic light’ system,” they said in a statement.
“This announcement is the culmination of extensive collaboration between industry, government, health authorities and ports during the last twelve months to further strengthen health measures, which now go beyond any other travel sector. The industry’s protocols have already been tried and tested as almost 400,000 people have sailed on cruises since last summer elsewhere around the globe.
“Today’s decision sends a signal of confidence in the industry and is a welcome boost to the thousands of people employed in the sector or whose livelihoods depend upon cruise, including travel agencies, hotels, tour guides, port operators and many other service providers up and down the country.”
Helen Coffey9 April 2021 11:31
The adventure tour guide and photographer, Paul Goldstein, has lambasted the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, for the assertions he has made since launching the Global Travel Taskforce.
The travel industry veteran said: “How dare Mr Shapps magnanimously tell us we can now start thinking about foreign travel. For months he has told us not to consider it, this proclamation being based on neither science nor maths.
“Now, due to absurd testing prices and regulations as well as, in many cases, the arbitrary and unfair traffic light shambles, he gives with one hand and takes away with the other.
“He knows nothing of how the travel industry works and has proved that many times and continues, despite this outrageous pledge, to twist the knife in an industry he has done more than most to destroy.”
Helen Coffey9 April 2021 11:22
Another travel boss dismayed at travel recommendations
The boss of the Dnata Travel Group – owner of Travel Republic, Travelbag and Netflights – has expressed “frustration at some of the recommendations”.
John Bevan, the chief executive, said: “The current high cost of PCR tests, and the requirement for even vaccinated travellers returning from ‘green’ countries to take them, will simply be a barrier to travel for many families and put a well-deserved summer break beyond their reach.
“The government must now make good on its commitment to work with our industry and test providers to bring down the cost of such tests, and make them at least as affordable as they are in other countries.
“The new ‘watchlist’ needs explaining. While it will provide consumers and operators alike with a degree of additional clarity around potential destinations of risk, the report makes it clear that the threat of a repeat of last summer’s chaotic scenes, with a country’s status at very short notice, hasn’t entirely gone away. So – along with the cost of testing – the prospect of enjoying a simple summer of sun remains some way off.”
Simon Calder9 April 2021 10:52
Where might be on the ‘green’ list?
Although it’s mere speculation at this point, we have a few predictions about where might be on the government’s ‘green’ list for quarantine-free travel from 17 May.
Countries will be sorted into colours at the start of May, the government has said.
Cathy Adams9 April 2021 10:49
Breaking: Jet2 suspends flights and holidays until 23 June
Jet2 flights and holidays up to and including 23 June have been suspended over uncertainty due to UK government travel proposals, the CEO has announced.
The firm is one of the UK’s biggest holiday companies.
Cathy Adams9 April 2021 10:03
Start to think about summer holidays, says transport secretary
More than three months after non-essential travel was banned, people can at last “start to think” about booking a summer holiday.
The transport secretary Grant Shapps spoke to Sky News this morning, saying it was the first time in “many months” he was not advising against booking foreign trips.
Many government ministers and epidemiologists have warned against booking summer holidays over the past few months.
Mr Shapps added that he was looking to “drive down the costs” of tests required for international travel to resume.
“Costs are definitely a concern, it’s one of the factors this year, and we have to accept we’re still going through a global pandemic,” he said.
Cathy Adams9 April 2021 09:46
The pilots’ trade union condemns the new proposals
Brian Strutton, general secretary of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa), condemned the government’s Global Travel Taskforce proposals.
He said: “Constant promises of opening up international travel only to be put off again and again, to an industry on its knees and a public desperate for some good news it feels like torture.”
Simon Calder9 April 2021 09:27
How travel will change from 17 May
Simon Calder9 April 2021 09:23
