NEWS
Passengers board easyJet’s first Faro-bound aircraft of the year at Gatwick on Monday
Green list tipped for broader expansion in June 28 review
Ian Taylor
Outbound holidays limited largely to Portugal resumed on Monday, with the government insisting it would maintain a “tough border regime” but amid rising hopes of an expanded green list of destinations from late June. A senior aviation source
ruled out significant changes in an initial review of the green list promised by June 7 but suggested a wider review set for June 28 offered a realistic chance of “expansion of the green list and changes to the system of testing”. The government launched its
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certificates including the UK’s this week and the source said: “It’s aligning better than we hoped. There are talks going on with other governments. Probably not much will change around June 7, but the review on June 28 gives time to look at the countries and strategy in detail and at what other countries in Europe are doing. They should be in a position to make that a meaningful date.” The source added: “We
have to be realistic. Our focus
promised Covid-19 vaccination certificate for travellers via the NHS App on Monday and the source said: “It’s an enormous step forward.” The EU was expected to sign off on recognising vaccination
travelweekly.co.uk
now is on June 28 to get expansion of the green list and changes to the system of testing. One challenge is getting the four nations to line up – that is a huge priority.” Prime minister Boris Johnson
insisted “we’ll be maintaining a very tough border regime for the foreseeable future” as he confirmed the easing of restrictions on
hospitality from Monday despite growing concerns about the latest variant identified first in India. Abta chief executive Mark
Tanzer told Travel Weekly: “The government is clearly being cautious.” He said: “Our first priority is to get more destinations on the green list. Second, it’s to make sure delays coming into the country are at an absolute minimum because that would deter travel. And third, it’s to increase the support available to travel companies.” Abta wrote to the government last
week as a prelude to seeking a judicial review of support for the sector. Tanzer said: “The repeated advice to people not to travel adds to the argument that they should provide extra support.” Alan Bowen, legal advisor to the
Association of Atol Companies, forecast the green list would “remain fairly limited” saying: “I expect
June 28 will be the earliest date [for expansion]. By then Portugal will have seen what we’ve done to them and we’ll see what they’ve done to us.” But he warned: “I fear if anything comes off the green list, we’ll be finished for the summer.” The government launched a
promised Passenger Charter on Monday which Bowen described as “back-of-the-envelope stuff”, noting: “The aim is to instil confidence. [But] it’s a 15-page document that would probably put people off booking.” However, the airline source
suggested confusion around the restart presents “an enormous opportunity for agents to wrestle back a portion of the market”, saying: “Booking travel for the foreseeable future will need more care than just click and pay. People need more help
than they’ve ever done.” i Abta takes legal step, page 7
20 MAY 2021 5
PICTURE: David Parry/PA Wire
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