Holidays for the rich: Airlines slam UK travel restart plan

UK government’s traffic light COVID risk ranking system will make overseas flights too expensive for many, airline group says.

Airlines have criticised the United Kingdom’s plans for restarting international travel, saying that expensive testing requirements for trips to low-risk countries would mean that only wealthy people could take holidays abroad. Under government proposals, airlines and passengers will not find out until early May whether international travel resumes from May 17, a plan which fell short of industry hopes for clarity. Airlines and travel companies are desperate for a bumper northern hemisphere summer after a year of restrictions. Without a high level of unrestricted travel, some could be left struggling to survive or needing fresh funds.