Families in Northern Ireland could be gearing up for October half-term holidays in the sunshine after a huge shake-up of coronavirus rules around international travel in the UK.
The British Government last night abandoned its traffic light regime for overseas visits and declared that expensive PCR tests will no longer be needed for people who are fully-vaccinated.
The system had been attacked by the travel industry, airline bosses and MPs for scuppering summer getaways for millions of lockdown-weary households.
Eight countries - Turkey, Egypt, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Oman, Bangladesh and Kenya – will be stripped from the red list from 4am on Wednesday.
The amber category will be scrapped altogether from Monday, October 4, and fully-jabbed passengers arriving in England and Wales from a non-red country will not need to take a Covid-19 test before boarding their flights.
It's hoped that the Northern Ireland Assembly will follow their lead in the coming days and weeks.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said demand has stepped up significantly over the last few days, with a massive surge in bookings for flights and package holidays following the news.
He said: “We expect the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive to update their advice too and we look forward to this.
“Although it has been a long time coming, we are extremely pleased that the Government has finally committed to reopening international travel properly.
“Holidaymakers will be frustrated that these changes come too late for the peak summer holiday period, but we know how delighted they will be that their holidays are no longer subject to a set of restrictions that are completely out of step with other areas of everyday life.”
The CEO said having to take a pre-departure test in resort, along with a PCR test on returning to the UK has “unfairly penalised” customers and families.
He welcomed the removal of the The Traffic Light system, which he described as “confusing and completely unfit for purpose since day one.”
“We welcome a new approach which is easy for everyone to understand and provides certainty,” he added.
With Turkey coming off the Red List, Jet 2 will be restart flights and holidays to Antalya and Dalaman from Thursday, September 23.
The CEO said there are “great deals to be had”, which also apply to the 40-plus destinations they will operate to.
He added: “The desire to get away for a well-earned holiday in the sunshine has never diminished, however harsh and unfair restrictions have remained a barrier for some.
“Now many of these restrictions have been removed, the rush in bookings for flights and package holidays to sun, ski and leisure city destinations tells us just how much holidaymakers have been longing to get away.
“Holidays mean so much to everyone, and we cannot wait to take our customers away on them.”
