It’s never good when you get a press release five minutes after a Government minister opens their mouth with words falling out of it. Top of the pile goes to easyJet – who are not happy about the green list changes.
The full quote from easyJet below.
Johan Lundgren, easyJet CEO commented:
“This shock decision to add Portugal to the Amber list is a huge blow to those who are currently in Portugal and those who have booked to be reunited with loved ones, or take a well-deserved break this summer. With Portuguese rates similar to those in the UK it simply isn’t justified by the science.
“And to add no more countries to the Green list when most of Europe’s infection rates are on a downward trend and many places with low infection rates below that of the UK, such as the Balearics with a current rate of 33 in 100,000 and Malta, with just 12 in 100,000, this makes no sense. Especially when domestic travel is allowed within the UK, despite a number of cities having infection rates 20 times greater than much of Europe.
“When this framework was put together, consumers were promised a waiting list to allow them to plan. Yet the government has torn up its own rule book and ignored the science, throwing peoples’ plans into chaos, with virtually no notice or alternative options for travel from the UK. This decision essentially cuts the UK off from the rest of the world.
“We have demonstrated that a safe re-opening of travel is possible as our study with leading epidemiologists from the Yale School of Public Health showed that the criteria which matters most is the impact on hospitalisation rates back in the UK, not the infection rates in destination. Reopening travel to much of Europe would have a negligible impact on hospitalisation rates in the UK.
“While our European fleet is gearing up for summer as European governments open up travel for their citizens, the UK government is making it impossible for airlines to plan while consumers are left grounded in the UK.”
Jet2 piles in…
For their customers, Jet2 has begun cancelling holidays.
CUSTOMER UPDATE – 03.06.21 pic.twitter.com/x6oDQsgiMI
— Jet2tweets (@jet2tweets) June 3, 2021
And even the Portuguese foreign ministry is less than happy… to put it mildly
We take note of the British decision to remove Portugal from the travel “green list”,the logic of which we cannot understand. Portugal continues to carry out its prudent and gradual deconfinement plan, with clear rules for the safety of those who live here and those who visit us.
— N Estrangeiros PT (@nestrangeiro_pt) June 3, 2021
Form a long queue
Just glancing over the BBC/Sky News articles everyone is now mad as hell, including
- British Airways
- Jet2
- Manchester Airports Group
- Heathow Airport
That’s not counting tourism authorities and agencies who have been piling in.
Commentary: Destroying travel confidence – and destroying an industry
Today’s actions might be seen in government circles as needed to control COVID. On the outside, it seems like an unplanned mess that they haven’t got a grip of in any sense of the word, with weightings placed on data
Although as a wise person once said “Data does not speak – People speak”.
Once again, travellers for the summer are at the mercy of Boris Johnson’s and Grant Shapps understanding of that data, as they play the guessing game of “which country is going on an Amber/Red List, making travel at best an unhappy business and at worst.
All this, as the EU and other countries begin to unlock.
And as for the travel industry? It’s hurting. Badly. More than the government even cares to admit.
But you’ll love staying in Royston Vasley – you’ll never want to leave.
The League of Gentlemen. Image, BBC.
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I have come to the conclusion that BoJo and his cronies have no intention of reopening, and that they want to shut off the UK from the world forever, ala Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.