Jet2 believes double vaccinated people should be free to take holidays in amber list countries without having to quarantine on return.
The boss of the low cost airline and operator Jet2holidays was responding to suggestions that the government may be considering the option to ‘save the summer’.
Destinations such as the Balearic islands, Greece and Malta should all be available for quarantine-free travel and the company revealed it is working with government to achieve that objective.
Jet2 and Jet2holidays chief executive Steve Heapy said: “This is very welcome news and should represent a meaningful restart to international travel in the very near future.
“The vaccination programme was designed to protect people from coronavirus so that they can enjoy their freedoms once again.
“If people have received two doses of the vaccine and are still not allowed to travel overseas to enjoy their holidays, what is the purpose of the vaccination programme? The rollout has been a huge success, so it is time for us all to enjoy the benefits of that.
“As well as vaccination rates, the UK government has said that they are making decisions about international travel based on infection rates too.
“If this data is driving these decisions, then we believe that destinations such as Malta, the Balearic Islands and many islands in Greece should be open to holidaymakers from the UK.”
He added: “At present, the UK remains largely grounded and our customers are left to look on with envy whilst the rest of Europe opens up.
“We look forward to flying again soon and will continue to work with the UK government to achieve that.”
Financial secretary to the Treasury, Jesse Norman, confirmed earlier newspaper reports that the government is looking at options for opening holidays to double-vaccinated Britons.
Speaking to Sky News today, he said: “We don’t want to get left behind by countries which may be adopting a two jabs approach if it can be done safely and if it can be done carefully and securely.”
“I wouldn’t write anything off at this point.”
But Norman stressed opening up means “we are in a situation where the virus is not something we control” and, amid the recent spike in cases from of the Delta variant, “it would be imprudent to make any carte blanche or firm statement now”.