Holidays: easyJet chief expects Spain to be on ‘green’ travel list

EASYJET chief Johan Lundgren expects popular destinations across Europe to be on the British government’s ‘green’ list when foreign travel takes off next month.

Flying off on holiday is scheduled to begin on from May 17 and will be subject to a traffic light system dependent on the risk of Covid-19 under government proposals.

Some experts predict low risk destinations could be limited to the likes of Iceland, Malta and Israel but Mr Lundgren expects all major European countries to be given a green light – including Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal.

Green list destinations mean travellers do not need to self-isolate on their return, people entering the UK from ‘amber’ countries have to self-isolate for 10 days – those returning from red list countries have to isolate in approved hotels at their own expense.

The easyJet chief has been critical of plans that mean passengers from ‘green’ countries would have to take two coronavirus tests – adding to costs and threatening to put holidays out of reach of many families.

He said even with the two-test system he expected popular destinations to be on the green list. “I wouldn’t see a reason why you wouldn’t have the majority of the countries of Europe in there.”

EasyJet has seen passenger numbers plummet in the pandemic but the carrier expects a recovery taking off next month. Mr Lundgren said the company could ramp up flight numbers quickly as travel restrictions eased.

Jack Troughton

Jack Troughton is a professional journalist and broadcaster living on the Costa Blanca.