by Matt Trinder

Industrial reporter

TRANSPORT unions have blasted Boris Johnson’s latest update on plans to restart international holidays as a “missed opportunity” to provide much-needed clarity for the aviation sector. 

On Monday, the Prime Minister said the government was “hopeful” that overseas leisure travel could resume from May 17 and would aim to give the sector “as much notice as possible.”

He unveiled the outline of a traffic light system which will see travellers returning from countries rated “green” not being required to self-isolate, though pre-departure and post-arrival tests will still be needed.

Only British citizens and those resident in the country will be allowed to return from “red list” countries, with passengers paying for a mandatory 10-day hotel quarantine period on arrival. 

Assessments on each destination’s status will be based on a range of factors, including Covid-19 infection and vaccination rates, but the likely categorisation of individual countries has not been announced.

Financial support for the industry in the meantime was also lacking. 

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said that ministers had “kicked the can down the road.”

“Our travel trade badly needs certainty going forward. After almost a whole year of shutdown, our travel trade is in a desperate state,” he added. 

“It is not too late for the government to give this sector the bespoke support it so badly needs.”

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT is deeply concerned about the long-term damaging impact of Covid-19.

“It is imperative that the government take proactive measures to protect jobs and services across the transport sector.”

Mike Clancy, general secretary for engineers and managers’ union Prospect, warned that the sector needed “months” to prepare for reopening to give passengers, and workers in related areas such as air traffic control, enough notice.  

“We needed certainty and a promise of additional support but instead we have more delay and vague allusions,” he said.

A spokesperson for pilots’ union Balpa said that there was “a lot of detail missing” from the Prime Minister’s statement.

“It is vital that we find a way to safely and securely restart flying for this summer,” the spokesperson added.

Last month, Unite assistant general secretary for transport Diana Holland issued a “final call” for Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s promised support package.