Ryanair wants EU and UK travel restrictions lifted by the end of May

Ryanair has called for the removal of all travel restrictions for air travel between Ireland and both the UK and EU from the end of May. The airline said the reducing numbers of people in hospital with Covid-19, coupled with the rollout of the vaccines, means restrictions including hotel quarantine should end.

"Thanks to the success of the UK's vaccine program, there is no justification for requiring visitors to Ireland from the UK (our major visitor market) to quarantine," said Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson. "The vast majority of the UK adult population have now received their first dose vaccination, and therefore pose no threat or risk to Ireland’s hospitals or health service."

Ryanair also said because most of Europe is on track to vaccinate 80% of its adult population with their first dose by the end of June, restrictions on travel within the EU could also be lifted from the end of the month.

"Ireland's travel restrictions are now outdated, inappropriate and unnecessary for air travel to and from the UK and the European Union, where successful vaccination programs have eliminated any risk to our hospitals and health services," he said.

The Irish Government have said they will be looking at the case for the lifting of travel restrictions in Ireland, but no date has been specified. They have also said that Ireland will join the EU's digital green certificate system, opening up the prospect of travel within the union during the summer. But Ryanair wants action long before then.

"It’s time our Government got the country and our tourism industry back to work, and we call again on Minister Eamon Ryan to action the Aviation Task Force Report he received in July 2020," reiterated the Ryanair CEO.