Jet2 Suspend Flights Amid Uncertainty Over Foreign Travel

Due to uncertainty over the government’s plans on foreign travel, Jet2 suspend flights and holidays until late June.

A lack of clarity over when international travel can resume has prompted the travel firm to make their decision to extend the suspension of flights and holidays until June 23.

The lockdown roadmap initially stated that foreign travel could restart from May 17 at the earliest. However, government officials are yet to confirm if this will go ahead as planned.

Previous announcements stated the introduction of a traffic light system with differing restrictions for destinations in each classification. But there has been no further mention on which countries would feature on each list, and what rules they will be subject to.

Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2, says the company has studied the Global Travel Taskforce’s framework and is “extremely disappointed at the lack of clarity and detail”. He argues that the framework remains virtually the same as before, and has not really changed in six months. There is no real clear information on how to get international travel going again. This is despite several weeks of exploration into the matter, and assistance and input from the industry. He has been left with no real choice but for Jet2 to suspend flights for the time being.

The framework leaves many questions unanswered. There is no set date on when people can start to fly, where they can go to, and the cost and availability of testing.

Travel Only for the Wealthy

Jet2 is the latest airline to express their discontent with the government. A number of other firms have slammed the government for their plans. They are unhappy about forcing travellers to take expensive tests for Covid when departing and arriving in the UK, wherever their holiday destination.

EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren thinks the plan to charge travellers £120 per person for testing is a big blow to the industry. It presented a risk of making holidays too expensive for people so only the wealthy would be able to fly.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has even admitted that the tests travellers must take are too expensive.

The boss of travel trade organisation Abta, claims that allowing the use of cheaper lateral flow tests would make international travel more accessible and affordable for everyone. And it would still be effective at minimising chances of reimportation of the virus.

The chief executive of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers feels let down by the government. The announcement does not show the reopening of travel that ministers promised.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said the government would work together with the travel industry and private testing providers. By doing this they hope to reduce the cost of overseas trips. Ideas include providing free pre-departure tests and cheaper return tests.

The news comes three days after Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to make testing requirements “as affordable as possible”.

The Traffic Light System

Plans to resume international travel include the introduction of a traffic light system. This will determine the isolation requirements of people arriving to the UK.

But at the moment, the government are still not able to announce which countries will be placed on the green list. It is too early to make any predictions now. This is because the coronavirus situation moves and changes so quickly.

The following sets out the rules for each classification:

• Green: No need for self isolation. Pre-departure test, and a test 2 days after arrival in the UK.
• Amber: 10 days in self isolation, unless a negative result is received from a test at least five days after arrival. Pre-departure test, and tests on day two and day eight of arrival in the UK.
• Red: 11 days in hotel quarantine. Pre-departure test, and tests on day two and day eight of arrival in the UK.

Countries will be assessed on proportion of vaccinations, infection rates, new variants and their access to reliable scientific data and genomic sequencing.

The determined categories will be subject to review. Plans are for the introduction of a watchlist which will identify countries most at risk of moving from green to amber.

The Joint Bio-security Centre is expected to make recommendations on categorisation of counties at the beginning of May. They hope this will give people some prior notice.

When Can we Start Booking Holidays?

Mr Shapps suggested that people could now start thinking about booking holidays abroad. Although he did warn that people should still be aware of the risks of coronavirus.

Progress is being made, albeit slowly and cautiously. The government are keen to not move too fast and too soon because they do not want the virus to return to this country. However, it is understandable that people are frustrated and want to be clear about where countries will be placed in the traffic light system.

By early May, the government plan to set out which countries will fall into which category. At the same time they will also confirm whether international travel can resume from 17 May. That means there is now only two to three weeks wait before the list is published.

Restrictions will be formally reviewed on June 28 to assess the situation at that time and decide whether current measures can be reduced. Further reviews are set to take place no later than July 31 and October 1.

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