EasyJet ready to 'ramp up' flights for summer holiday season from late May

14 April 2021, 10:52 | Updated: 14 April 2021, 11:27

Countries on the Government&squot;s "green list" are said to be of huge interest to easyJet customers
Countries on the Government's "green list" are said to be of huge interest to easyJet customers. Picture: PA

By Patrick Grafton-Green

EasyJet has said it is ready to "ramp up" services for the summer holiday season by offering more flights from late May as restrictions ease.

The budget airline said it expects to fly up to 20% of 2019 capacity levels between April and June, with most countries planning to resume flying at scale in May.

EasyJet flew just 14% of its 2019 flight programme between October and the end of March.

READ MORE: Mixed Covid-19 vaccines trial to be expanded to include two further jabs

READ MORE: Young black people 'hit hardest by Covid job losses', think tank warns

Chief executive Johan Lundgren said: "We continue to closely monitor the situation across Europe and, with vaccination programmes accelerating, most countries are planning to resume flying at scale in May.

"We have the operational flexibility to rapidly increase flying and add destinations to match demand.

"EasyJet is ready to resume flying, prepared for the ramp-up and looking forward to being able to reunite people with their families or take them on leisure and business flights once again."

Brits are set to be allowed to travel abroad for foreign holidays from 17 May under the Government's roadmap to easing coronavirus restrictions.

Virologist 'very worried' about 'confusing' traffic light system

But there are fears over a third wave across Europe and with vaccination programmes progressing more slowly in other countries globally.

However, asked if he expects destinations such as France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus and Turkey to be on the Government's "green" list, Mr Lundgren said: "I wouldn't see reason why you wouldn't have the majority of the countries of Europe in there.

"We really believe that, if you're in the 'green' category, there should not be any need of any testing at all because it would be considered low-risk.

"Now, if there is a PCR and a lateral flow test needed in there, by the time we get to the 17th of May, and the rollout of the vaccination programme that seems to be picking up everywhere we look around Europe, I would struggle to see - unless something happened between now and then - that there would be many countries who wouldn't be in that 'green' category."

He added that countries on the green list are of huge interest to customers, and urged the Government to "come out with this list as soon as possible because this is the main question for most of our customers right now".

Effectiveness of lockdowns are 'remarkably' low, says microbiologist

Under the new traffic light system, people arriving in the UK from those countries will not be required to self-isolate.

People entering from an "amber" destination must quarantine for 10 days, while existing rules for arrivals from "red" locations will continue, including the mandatory stay in a quarantine hotel.

Everyone returning to or visiting the UK will be required to take at least one Covid-19 test prior to departure and after they arrive.

Mr Lundgren also reiterated calls for the Government to cut the price of tests for air passengers, having previously said they sometimes cost more than easyJet's tickets.

"EasyJet was founded to make travel accessible for all and so we continue to engage with Government to ensure that the cost of the required testing is driven down so that it doesn't risk turning back the clock and make travel too costly for some," Mr Lundgren said.

EasyJet confirmed it will slump to a steep loss of between £690 million and £730 million for the six months to 31 March, but said this is slightly better than expected thanks largely to stringent cost-cutting.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

A Qatar Airways flight from Manchester was forced to divert earlier this evening

UK flight bound for Doha forced to turn back after Iran launches missiles at US air base in Qatar

Sir Keir Starmer will fly to the Hague today for crunch meetings against a backdrop of global volatility in the Middle East and Ukraine.

UK and NATO allies to include 'money spent on tackling small boats' to boost defence spending in bid to appease Trump

The

Thousands raised after family die in motorway crash - daughter, 8, is only survivor

Kate Shemirani, conspiracy theorist, anti-vaxxer and former nurse

Daughter of notorious conspiracy theorist died of cancer after 'falling for mother's theories', her brothers say

Iran has launched an attack on a US military base.

Trump calls for 'peace & harmony' in the Middle East as he brands Iran's attack on US air base a 'very weak response'

Emma Raducanu during a practice session during Eastbourne Open, where she is currently competing

Raducanu says Wimbledon 'did amazing job' after stalker tried to buy match tickets

Large fire engulfs the abandoned Hotspur Press mill building near Oxford Road in Central Manchester. Credit Milo Chandler/Alamy Live News

Major fire in Manchester city centre causes serious disruption

Notorious criminal John 'Goldfinger' Palmer was murdered at his home in Brentwood in Essex in 2015. His killer has never been found

Who killed John 'Goldfinger' Palmer? Police make fresh appeal 10 years after his death

An RAF flight has left Israel carrying 63 UK nationals and their dependents, as the UK government begins evacuating British citizens from the country amid ongoing attacks between Iran and Israel.

First RAF flight evacuates 63 Britons from Israel as Lammy confirms one UK national injured in Iran missile attacks

Moment Israel blows up the front gate of Iran's notorious Evin prison

Israel blow's gates of Iran's notorious Evin Prison where many political prisoners are held

The DLR could be heading further south east of the Thames - not just the River Lea

Every railway line extension in London: Sadiq Khan's Thamesmead DLR ambition gets to next stage

Iranian protesters chant slogans and one holds a poster with a vampire-like illustration of US President Donald Trump in Revolution Square to protest US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran

LIVE: Trump breaks silence as Iran launches strike on US military base in Qatar

British Airways had stopped some flights to the Middle East over the weekend

UK flights restored to Dubai and Qatar

NATO says alliance's new defence investment plan will be 5% of GDP to ensure security and defence.

NATO to hike defence spending to 5% of GDP in major security push as chief warns Iran on developing nuclear weapon

Former Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan has announced his diagnosis with stage four prostate cancer.

Veteran news presenter Dermot Murnaghan diagnosed with ‘advanced’ stage 4 prostate cancer

Dozens of bodies have been recovered from the Balearic Islands, including Majorca, this year.

Holiday horror as five bodies with shackled hands and feet wash up on beach at tourist hotspot