The Chief Executive of low-cost carrier Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, is calling on the UK government to put an end to the ‘test before travel’ scheme in February.
The UK government is set to make it mandatory for travellers by air, rail and sea to the UK to produce evidence of a negative coronavirus test taken within 72 hours of departure.
However, Mr O’Leary has spoken out to call for the ‘test before travel’ scheme to only last four weeks. He says it should end mid-February – that’s the UK government’s target to vaccinate the most vulnerable 14 million.
Mr O’Leary said: “On the one hand Boris Johnson is telling us that all the high-risk groups will be vaccinated by the middle of February, yet at the same time they’re introducing travel restrictions.
“Why isn’t it ending in the middle of February, co-terminus with the vaccine roll-out?
“Why are you restricting people from moving thereafter.
“Nobody can make a booking for two weeks out in February or March.
“Bookings have collapsed, and air travel will collapse to and from the UK.
“We’re calling today on Grant Shapps to tell us when this restriction is going to be lifted.”
