RYANAIR is selling £5 flights to amber list destinations such as Spain and Greece – despite warnings from MPs about holidays abroad.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has slammed airlines who are selling flights to non-green list countries as confusion grows over which countries Brits can travel.
The low-cost airline's 48-hour flash sale is selling £5 flights to Italy, Greece and Spain for the whole month of June, claiming they are "expected to join Portugal on the green list soon".
However, Matt Hancock said yesterday: "I’m picking up real irritation with the travel industry.
"I’m hearing words from ministers like ‘totally irresponsible’ of airlines to be putting on extra flights to the so-called amber countries.”
“These are the countries that technically, legally you can travel to but you have to self-isolate in your home on your return, and you need a test before, after, and during the visit.”
Many MPs have said that Brits should not be going on holiday to amber list destinations right now.
Earlier this week, Matt Hancock said that people should only travel to amber countries if "absolutely necessary" while Prime Minister Boris Johnson added: "It is not somewhere you should be going on holiday, let me be very clear about that."
Education Minister Gillian Keegan told Times Radio: "Amber list countries are there for a reason – they are there so that you can travel for business, you can travel for particular situations such as funerals or if there are some specific care issues in your family.
"But holiday where you have a choice, we are advising you to go to the green list countries, and of course, there's only 12 of those so most people, we anticipate, will stay at home."
She added that she was also "desperate" to go to Spain but said "not is now the right time".
Tory MP Peter Bone told BBC's Today programme: "You should only be going on holiday to green countries at the moment. There are essential reasons for going to amber or red countries but you have to face consequences when quarantining."
However, he also said more countries should be added to the green list, and should include "Malta, which there is virtually no problem, and some of the Greek islands, and Spain and other European countries".
This week’s best deals for holidays abroad
- Portugal holidays to book from £131pp now Brit tourists can travel to country
- Get Universal Orlando theme park tickets for adults at kids’ prices
- Gibraltar holidays from £105pp as country makes UK green list
- Cheap Portugal villa holidays and all inclusive hotels
- Flights for Portugal in June from £10
- TUI launches summer sale with £50 off Portugal hols or £100 off Greece & Malta
Despite this, thousands of Brits flocked to the airport on Monday after the holiday ban was lifting, with the many travellers heading to green-list Portugal.
Many also headed to amber list destinations such as Spain and Greece with airlines including TUI still offering flights to the countries.
We've explained what Covid tests you may need for your holiday this year, as well as how much they might cost.
Travel restrictions have lifted in England this week as well, with hotels now open and group holidays able to go ahead.
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