Filenews 20 May 2021
British airlines continue to plan extra routes to the Mediterranean, the "orange" zone, and even offer extremely cheap tickets, despite the recommendations of experts against this.
Ryanair's short-term offer of just 48 hours takes advantage of the confusion from the government's actions, as the low-cost airline offers flights to Greece, Italy and Spain and Cyprus for just £5, as it expects countries to join the "green" list soon. Cheap tickets concern, in particular, Athens, Corfu, Santorini, Kefalonia, as well as Venice, Rome, Valencia, Madrid, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Marseille, Barcelona, etc.
All this contradicts the constant warnings of Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock over the past week not to travel "to orange" countries for leisure purposes, but only for serious professional or family reasons, for fear of a third wave. Although the government itself has legalised international travel since Monday, officially responsibility for the evolution of the pandemic in the UK is falling on the world.
The UK Government's "traffic light" system divides countries into three lists: green, orange and red. And while there are only 12 countries on the "green" list, it is a fact that in the so-called "orange", there are almost all the most popular tourist destinations for Britons. It is already estimated that 54,000 Britons travel a day to these countries - this in the first week of restarting international travel and despite restrictions.
Airlines are opposed, as without the proceeds from these trips thousands of jobs and millions of pounds are lost from their coffers.
However, Matt Hancock said yesterday: "I am getting comments of real frustration with the travel industry. I hear words from ministers such as 'the airlines are completely irresponsible' by making extra flights to the so-called 'orange' countries. These are the countries you can travel to from a technical point of view, but you need to isolate yourself at home on your return and you need a test before, after and during the visit."
Education Minister Jillian Keegan told Times Radio: "The orange list countries are there for a reason - they are there to travel on business, you can travel for certain situations such as funerals or if there are specific issues in your family. But holidays we advise you to go to the countries of the green list." She added that she likes to go to Spain like crazy, but said "now is not the time."
Source: Capital.gr
