Leading airlines and tour operators have warned the prime minister he would cause “lasting economic damage” to the UK unless he opens up Europe, the US and Caribbean to foreign travel next month.
They want an expansion of the current green list, that includes only 12 destinations – with only Portugal, Gibraltar and Iceland accessible to holidaymakers.
In a letter to Boris Johnson, the bosses said: “The science shows clearly the green list can be expanded safely now, including to many European countries, the US and the Caribbean.”
More: Industry chiefs demand ‘urgent expansion to green list’
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The letter, carried by the Telegraph, added: “A second lost summer for the sector, due to a limited expansion of the green list compared to our neighbours, would cause lasting damage to the UK’s aviation, travel and tourism industries.”
“The UK is falling behind the rest of the world, with long term consequences for our connectivity and prospects of a Global Britain.”
Their warning came as the government was tipped to add selected island destinations to the green list at the next review of the travel traffic light system, even if mainlands are rated amber.
Aviation minister Robert Courts told MPs the government would take such an approach “where possible”.
If the islands policy is introduced it could mean that the Canary, Balearic and Greek islands could be rated green because of their low Covid infection rates, separate from the mainlands in Spain and Greece.
It could also pave the way for other islands in the Caribbean and Mediterranean to be opened up for leisure travel.
The Telegraph reported that Courts said: “The government will take an island approach for border measures where possible,” in answer to a question on whether the government would reopen routes to relatively low risk regions of nations.
Shapps has previously indicated that he favoured a return of the islands policy this year. ‘Travel corridors’ to some Greek and Spanish were introduced last summer, before the traffic light system was announced this year.