EasyJet Survey: Most Brits want green list travel to be restriction-free
New research commissioned by easyJet reveals 61% of Brits want travel to and from ‘green list’ countries free of travel restrictions this summer.
The ‘traffic light’ system will add green and amber tiers of countries to the current red list used by the government. Currently countries on the green list will require British travellers to take a PCR Covid test.
The survey found 55% say they will not be able to go on holiday this summer if expensive PCR Covid tests, currently costing up to £150, are imposed on passengers to low-risk green tier countries.
According to the research, which polled 2,000 British holidaymakers, almost three-quarters (74%) believe that if tests do remain a requirement for travel to low-risk green tier countries, they should be in line with the lateral flow testing being used for the reopening of the rest of the UK economy rather than the more complex and expensive PCR tests.
PCR tests are processed in a laboratory and come at a far greater expense than lateral flow tests, which give results in 30 minutes.
More than half (58%) would be more likely to take a holiday abroad to low-risk green countries this summer if the government introduced cheaper lateral flow tests in place of expensive PCR tests.
The study also reveals that the average holidaymaker believes the cost of a PCR test should be brought down to £30 if they have to remain, with the maximum they are willing to spend being £50.
Johan Lundgren, easyJet CEO, said: "The UK government need to come out as early as possible with final details of the testing regime and let the public know the tiers countries will be put into and the criteria it will use to decide those tiers."
"We believe that most European countries should be in the green tier based on the protection the NHS provided Brits through our vaccination roll-out and the low presence of variants of concern in most European countries."
When it comes to the more ‘at-risk’ countries, amber and red on the government’s traffic light system, 90% of Brits agree testing is needed to ensure safe travel.
Almost two-thirds (62%) believe that having a PCR Covid test on our return from a low-risk country is unnecessary.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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