Stansted Airport bosses say they 'simply cannot understand' why some countries are not being added to the Government's green list of destinations to visit. 

The Department for Transport said seven countries were being added to the red list on Thursday following the first three-weekly review of the Government’s traffic light travel system.

The countries added were Afghanistan, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Trinidad & Tobago.

It means people arriving in the UK from those nations will be required to stay in a quarantine hotel for 11 nights.

Portugal will move to the amber list and no new countries will be added to the green list. 

Read more >> Portugal to be removed from green travel list amid rising cases

Charlie Cornish, CEO of MAG which runs Stansted, said: “We were told the traffic light system would allow people to travel safely, with the right measures in place to manage risk for different countries.

“But it is now clear the Government doesn’t trust its own system and that international travel is being unfairly scapegoated, with tens of thousands of jobs placed at risk in the process.

“Low-risk destinations continue to be left off the green list despite clear evidence they are safe to visit. With case rates lower than the UK, we simply cannot understand why the likes of the Balearics, the Canaries and some Greek islands do not fall into that category.

“If we followed the approach being taken across Europe, lots of other countries – like the United States, Germany and Italy – would also be classed as green.

“Instead, we’re stuck with a system that is clearly not fit for purpose and will deny people the opportunity to travel abroad safely this year."

UK Health Security Agency chief executive Dr Jenny Harries said: “Increases in case rates in the UK serve as a reminder that this pandemic is not over yet and we need to take a cautious approach.

“Everyone should observe the travel guidance, continue to follow hands, face, space and fresh air, and have both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine when offered.

“Testing will help to break chains of transmission and allow us to see which variants are circulating so make sure you get tested when you return to the UK in line with the guidance.”