Manchester Airport bosses hit out at 'Green List' change

Manchester Airport bosses have slammed the government's update to its traffic light foreign travel system.

On Thursday, May 3, the government announced tighter restrictions on foreign travel.

More countries have been added to the Government's "red list" for travel - which means you must not travel there for holiday purposes.

No more countries will be added to the green list of countries where travel is allowed - with Portugal relegated to amber from next Tuesday.

The government said Portugal had seen a doubling of infection rates since the previous travel review.

The traffic light system sees countries rated as either green, amber or red on the basis of current coronavirus rates and vaccinations

The classifications carry different rules for quarantine and Covid tests.

But the announcement has come with backlash as critics warned of a loss of jobs and confidence, while Easyjet said the government had torn up its own rules.

Moving Portugal from the green to the amber list was a "safety first approach" to "give us the best chance of unlocking domestically", said Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

There had been some speculation that Greek and Spanish islands could be added to the green list, but the government has stated it had to remain cautious.

Charlie Cornish, Manchester Airports Group CEO, has slammed the move, saying: “We were told the traffic light system would allow people to travel safely, with the right measures in place to manage risk for different countries.

“But it is now clear the government doesn’t trust its own system and that international travel is being unfairly scapegoated, with tens of thousands of jobs placed at risk in the process.

“Low-risk destinations continue to be left off the green list despite clear evidence they are safe to visit. With case rates lower than the UK, we simply cannot understand why the likes of the Balearics, the Canaries and some Greek islands do not fall into that category.

“If we followed the approach being taken across Europe, lots of other countries – like the United States, Germany and Italy – would also be classed as green.

Travellers arriving at Manchester Airport (Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

“Instead, we’re stuck with a system that is clearly not fit for purpose and will deny people the opportunity to travel abroad safely this year.

“The lack of transparency is shocking and totally unacceptable.

"If the government has information that supports its decisions, then it needs to publish it. We have repeatedly asked for this data, but we are being left in the dark about how it is making these choices, with no opportunity for scrutiny or challenge.

“That is not the way to go about limiting people’s freedoms and crippling the country’s travel and tourism sectors. With so much at stake, we need immediate transparency and urgent action to make this system of travel restrictions fit for purpose.”