Jet2holidays Hits Back at Health Secretary’s ‘No Foreign Holidays’ Comment on ITV

Jet2holidays has hit back at Health Secretary Matt Hancock after his comments on ITV's This Morning programme, warning the public that foreign holidays were 'unlikely' to go ahead this summer

Jet2holidays has hit back at Health Secretary Matt Hancock after his comments on ITV’s This Morning programme, warning the public that foreign holidays were ‘unlikely’ to go ahead this summer. Jet2holidays said that the Secretary’s comments are “his personal opinions” and “not government policy”.

A spokesperson for Jet2holidays said: “We note the comments made by the Secretary of State for Health. These are his personal opinions and are not government policy.

“We are continuing with our plans to recommence flights and holidays on June 17th, a decision we are keeping under constant review in line with guidance from Governments and the relevant authorities.”

Speaking on ITV’s This Morning, the Health Secretary said: “We will seek to reopen hospitality from early July if we keep successfully reducing the spread of this virus but I think social distancing of some kind is going to continue.

“And the conclusion from that is that it’s unlikely big lavish international holidays are going to be possible for this summer. I just think that’s a reality of life.”

Jet2holidays plan to restart holiday operations from June 17, 2020.

In a statement the operator said: “In view of the ongoing uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we have taken the decision to recommence our flights and holidays programme on June 17. We are keeping this decision under constant review, in line with guidance from Governments and the relevant authorities.”

Spring Hotels in Tenerife are also getting ready to welcome guests this summer. A spokesperson for the hotel group said: “Spring Hotels in Tenerife are following Spanish Government orders of temporary closure safeguarding guests, their 500 employees and society at large.

“Currently our friends at Jet2holidays have flights loaded from June 19 from Belfast to Tenerife. Spring Hotels Tenerife are planning to open one of our hotels “The Vulcano” on June, 1 2020, however this can change accordingly.”

Ryanair has also just announced today (May 12, 2020) that they are planning to restore 40% of its flight schedules from July 1, 2020.

The airline said it would be asking passengers to wear face masks and have their temperature checked before boarding flights. There will also be no queuing for toilets permitted on board.

A spokesperson for the airline said: “Ryanair will operate a daily flight schedule of almost 1,000 flights, restoring 90 per cent of its pre-Covid-19 route network.”

The carrier hopes to operate 139 routes from the Republic’s airports, including 101 from Dublin, 23 from Cork and 15 from Shannon.

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