Brits will not be allowed to fly away on holidays from this week - but Ryanair will not be issuing refunds for flights unless they are cancelled.
The budget airline's CEO Michael O'Leary confirmed that his company has no plans to give ticket-holders their money back if their flight goes ahead, even though the Government lockdown guidelines will ban people from travelling abroad for holidays.
Newcastle Airport is among the terminals which Ryanair flies from.
Mr O'Leary said: "We allow people to change their flight times to flights on later dates if necessary, but if the flight is operating, there won't be any refunds.
"But if the flight is cancelled under Government direction, they will be entitled to a refund."
Mr O'Leary was accused of being unfair on passengers and going against UK Government advice.
He responded: "It's only Government advice, you know, if the Government want to change that advice and the Government wants to provide refunds to passengers themselves, they can feel free to do so, but at the moment we still have people that are travelling on those flights - who are travelling for essential and for business reasons - and if the flight is operating, there are not any refunds."
Under the UK's lockdown laws set to be implemented on Thursday, November 5, travel within the UK and abroad will "not be allowed" unless it is for work, education or care reasons.
The guidelines state : "Overnight stays and holidays away from primary residences will not be allowed. This includes holidays abroad and in the UK. It also means you cannot stay in a second home, if you own one, or staying with anyone you do not live with or are in a support bubble with.
"There are specific exceptions, for example, if you need to stay away from home (including in a second home) for work purposes, but this means people cannot travel overseas or within the UK, unless for work, education or other legally permitted reasons."
Ryanair has said it will operate up to a 30% capacity of its routes.
