Cross-channel transporter Brittany Ferries says it is pleased the Government is allowing foreign holidays again – but wants regular reviews of the new “traffic light” system after France and Spain were put on the “amber list”.
The company, which sails to the continent from Plymouth, Poole and Portsmouth, said it was pleased France and Spain avoided being on the “red list” of nations, which are under the most stringent restrictions. But it said the two countries should be reclassified as “green” within weeks and that regular reviews of the list are “imperative”.
Christophe Mathieu, Brittany Ferries’ chief executive, said: “We welcome clarity on the traffic light framework for international travel and understand why France and Spain have been put on the amber list.
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“However, we urge regular review as the situation is improving rapidly on the continent. Thanks to a downward trend in Covid cases and improving vaccination rates, we fully expect France and Spain to be re-classified as green countries in the weeks ahead.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the new “traffic light” system for travel abroad during a Government coronavirus briefing.
Under the new rules, countries are rated green, amber or red depending on their Covid infection risk. The list of green countries will have the fewest travel restrictions when the rules come into effect on May 17. Travellers to countries rated green will not need to isolate on their return, but they will need to take a Covid test before and after their trip.
People in England can visit Portugal, Gibraltar and Israel from May 17 without self-isolating on their return, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced.
They are the only popular summer short-haul destinations out of 12 countries and territories on the Government’s new green list for travel.
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The green list also consists of Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, Iceland and the Faroe Islands and the Falklands.
Arrivals from amber countries will need to take a pre-departure test, fill in a locator form, and quarantine at home for up to 10 days, with regular testing to see if they are free of the virus and can go out.
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Red-list countries have the strictest rules, with only 海角视频 or Irish nationals, or 海角视频 residents, allowed to return - and they must pay for a 10-day stay in a Government quarantine hotel.
Turkey, the Maldives and Nepal have been added to the red list. People returning from those countries after 4am on Wednesday will be required to stay in a quarantine hotel for 11 nights at a cost of £1,750 for solo travellers.
The DfT also announced that from May 17, people who have had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine will be able to use the NHS app to demonstrate their status.
People who do not have the app will be able to request an NHS letter from that date.
Mr Mathieu said: “We are now much more optimistic about the peak summer season. France and Spain will be open for business and we know that holiday makers are desperate to return to the beautiful destinations we serve.”
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But he added: “We must also recognise concerns raised by Members of Parliament earlier this week about potential transmission in airport terminals.
“Today we remind everyone that there are other means to take a vacation abroad. Drive-on to a ferry in your own car, enjoy plenty of space, fresh air on decks and take to your own cabin on many services. There’s no mingling in a terminal and no need to travel in cramped conditions, in close proximity to others.”
Brittany Ferries serves five destinations in north west France and two in northern Spain. It sails from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth where it has its 海角视频 HQ. I
In a non-Covid year, the company carries 2.5 million passengers, 85% of whom are British. The company is already .
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Brittany Ferries is working on after the Covid pandemic and Brexit problems saw revenue sink by 267million euros. The firm saw turnover fall to just 202.4million euros in 2020 – a 57% drop from 469million euros a year earlier.
The company carried just 752,102 passengers overall in 2020, figures released in March 2021 revealed, down from nearly 2.5milion in 2019. On the Plymouth to Roscoff route passenger numbers sank from 328,133 to 78,445.
With about 80% of company income generated through passenger traffic the company said the effect travel restrictions had on turnover was “devastating”.
Freight was less badly affected, down 20% from 201,554 units to 160,377 as trucks were allowed to cross the water even when passengers were banned by various anti-coronavirus restrictions.
But the firm was affected by Brexit stockpiling and border control problems too and on the Plymouth to Roscoff sailings just 2,906 units were moved, compared to 4,787 a year earlier. French-owned Brittany Ferries called the stats “some of the most disappointing figures” in its history.