Ryanair PLC’s (LON:RYA) outspoken boss has called for vaccinated travellers to be able to move freely between the UK and EU to save the travel industry's summer.
Describing the UK’s government’s coronavirus travel plans as a shambles, Michael O'Leary said it was time to take advantage of the UK’s successful vaccine programme "to allow the restoration of free movement of vaccinated UK citizens and their families to and from the EU, where Covid case rates are lower than the UK and vaccination rates are rising rapidly,”
Ryanair was one of a number of airlines that expressed dismay earlier this month when Portugal was taken off the green list meaning travellers have to self-isolate for ten days on their return and take two Covid-19 tests.
“The green list is non-existent because countries such as Malta and Portugal, with lower COVID case numbers than the UK and rapidly rising vaccination rates, remain on amber,” said O'Leary.
The airline chief executive added that using a vaccine-based approach would at least allow the industry to plan for what is left of the summer holiday season.
“It is time for Boris Johnson to end his gross mismanagement of Covid and the recovery from Covid, and take advantage of the UK’s successful vaccine programme."
Ryanair shares rose by 0.3% to 16.19.