Airline bosses heap pressure on government to add more countries to go on green travel list
The bosses of the UK’s biggest airlines are urging the transport secretary to add
more countries to the green list next week and reduce the “burden” of
testing requirements.
The eight industry figures from British Airways, Ryanair and
other firms say green status should “increasingly become a default”
due to the vaccine rollout in “many of our key markets”.
In a letter to Grant Shapps, they wrote: “On this basis there is no
reason why, and it is essential, that much of Europe including the key volume
markets, the US, Caribbean and other major markets, cannot turn green next week
in time for the remainder of the summer peak.
“If the testing regime remains in place, with its cost and
administrative burden, it will have a huge impact on UK aviation – acting
effectively as around a £100 tax on flights, on average. It is unclear whether
the government has understood this risk.”
They say they are currently seeing “no real recovery in
customer confidence”, adding: “Despite
tentative steps forward, time is fast running out to put the UK’s aviation,
travel and tourism industries back on track for a sustainable recovery to
protect the millions of jobs they support.
“We
cannot afford to stand still over this vital summer period, and urge you to
act.”
The letter was signed by
Airlines UK boss Tim Alderslade, Virgin Atlantic CEO
Shai Weiss, easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren and British Airways boss Sean Doyle.
Jet2.com’s head Steve Heapy, Loganair’s chief executive Jonathan
Hinkles, Ryanair boss Edward Wilson and Andrew Flintham, the managing director
of TUI UK & Ireland, also signed it.
