Senior aviation figures have condemned the UK’s test requirements for travel over Christmas and called for more consistency across Europe.
EasyJet chief commercial officer Sophie Dekkers complained: “We’ve seen over 50 rule changes in the UK in the last 20 months. It’s confusing even for us in the industry.”
Speaking on a Capa Centre for Aviation webinar, Dekkers said: “The amount of testing to come back into the UK is just unnecessary.”
She suggested the difference in load factors between easyJet flights to and from the UK and elsewhere in Europe were “a good indicator” of the impact the UK government’s measures are having.
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She noted: “In the UK were at [an average] 76% load factor. In Europe we’re at 85%.”
Wizz Air chief operating officer George Michalopoulos argued: “Consistency is the biggest issue. The number-one concern people have in going to another country is being stranded or having to quarantine [if they test positive for Covid-19].
“The issue is a lack of consistency and knee jerk reactions and restrictions. We need a more pragmatic approach.”
Manchester Airports Group corporate strategy director Paul Willis agreed, saying: “Consistency is the key. The UK government jumped far too quickly into putting on restrictions [because of the Omicron Covid-19 variant].
“The pre-departure test is the killer with Omicron. Testing on arrival we can accept.
“We’re calling for an urgent review of these restrictions. We’re pushing hard and there are some positive signs from the government.”
Dekkers said the confusion extends beyond the UK restrictions, in particular regarding children aged 12 and over, saying: “If you’ve only been vaccinated once you’re not counted as fully vaccinated by some countries and not allowed in. So there is confusion around what is allowed.”
However, she suggested: “We’ve learned not to overreact to initial knee jerk reactions like the recent Swiss border closure. You take out capacity and contact customers and then it changes again. As an industry we are learning to moderate our response.”
Willis told the webinar: “Governments and Europe have to agree a strategy. We have to avoid this stop-start.”
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