Costly testing regimes should be scrapped for fully-vaccinated passengers travelling to green list destinations, a leading airline has demanded.
Virgin Atlantic, which mainly operates to long-haul destinations including the Caribbean, said UK holidaymakers should reap the benefits of the country’s successful vaccination programme, by ending Covid testing for travel to green list countries.
Vaccinated passengers travelling to amber destinations should also be free from testing, consistent with the approach to vaccinated passengers taken by the US and the EU, the airline's boss said..
A number of Caribbean destinations are among 14 new countries and territories added to the Government green list of destinations from which travellers do not have to self-isolate on their return.
Shai Weiss, CEO Virgin Atlantic, commented: "It’s a constructive step that the Government has recognised that Antigua, Barbados and Grenada can be classified as “green” allowing family and friends to finally reunite and enable much needed holidays.
"However the announcement fails to go far enough. The Government’s own evidence shows that the US is low risk and should be added to the Green list now. Whilst the transatlantic corridor is closed, £23 million in economic value each day is restricted.
“Successful vaccination programmes are key to unlocking international travel. The Government must now remove quarantine for fully vaccinated passengers returning from both “Amber” and “Green” countries, no later than the domestic reopening on July 19.
"The UK has already fallen behind the EU’s reopening and a continued overly cautious approach will further impact economic recovery and the 500,000 UK jobs that are at stake.”
The call was backed by Dr Clarice Modeste Curwen, minister for tourism in Grenada, who added: "We’re delighted that Grenada has been included on the UK’s green list for holidaymakers and the travel and tourism sector alike.
“With just 161 cases of Covid-19 since the onset of the pandemic and zero new reported cases locally since February, we are ready to welcome UK visitors back to our beautiful islands.
“We have stringent protocols in place to ensure we remain one of the safest travel options around and over 90% of our tourism workers are now fully vaccinated.
“Grenada is the hidden gem of the Caribbean, offering breath-taking waterfalls, the friendliest people and 30 white sandy beaches – providing the perfect post pandemic getaway.”
