Aviation bosses have criticised the Government’s “traffic light system” for resuming international travel, saying that the requirement for travellers to and from “green list” countries to be tested for Covid will price many people out of holidays abroad. The Mail has the story.
The new traffic light scheme will see countries rated green, amber or red using criteria including vaccination levels, case numbers and the prevalence of coronavirus variants.
Travellers returning from countries rated “green” will not be required to self-isolate, although pre-departure and post-arrival tests will still be needed.
EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren said the testing requirement should be ditched because if countries have cases under control and have extensive vaccination programmes then “green is green”.
He said paying for laboratory-based PCR tests would cost “way over and above what the cost is of an average easyJet fare” which would result in only opening up international travel “for people who can afford it”.
He said that would not be “fair” or “right” as he also questioned whether the approach was backed up by science.
His comments came after Mr Johnson said he is “hopeful” of resuming some non-essential foreign travel from May 17th but refused to give a firm commitment to the roadmap date.
Government regulations on testing for those travelling abroad has been widely criticised for adding so much to the cost of holidays. A Lockdown Sceptics reader recently highlighted the additional costs suffered by British travellers to France because of the requirement to have three PCR tests at a minimum of £120 each.
If you want to come back from France to the UK you have to provide a negative PCR test. That costs a very reasonable € 15… in France.
But on your return to the UK, you have to undergo two more PCR tests, on day two and day five after you arrive. For some mysterious reason, the cheapest tests in the UK are £120(!) each from Boots (and ridiculous amounts more from other providers). Even the Boots “bargain basement” cost adds an outrageous £360 to the total cost of a trip to France, as, of course, you need a PCR test outward bound too!
Lloyds Pharmacy has since undercut Boots’ PCR test cost… by £1.
The Mail’s report is worth reading in full.
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