Manchester Airport Group (MAG) and Ryanair are taking legal action against the government over its traffic light travel system.
MAG – which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports – is teaming up with Michael O’Leary’s airline to tackle the government on international travel rules, reports the BBC.
The legal challenge – which arrives just days after confirmation the end of lockdown will be delayed – apparently has the backing of other big travel companies.
Travel groups are arguing that the government needs to produce more data to support its decision-making on restrictions to certain countries.
MAG and Ryanair have launched legal action over travel list restrictions / Image: Wikimedia Commons
Currently, the government is operating a traffic light system for travel – which categorises countries as ‘green’, ‘amber’ or ‘red’ depending on their risk level.
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Arrivals from green list countries do not need to quarantine upon their return to the UK, whereas those coming back from Amber nations must self-isolate for 10 days. Anyone returning from red list countries must quarantine in a hotel.
All passengers – regardless of destination – are asked to take COVID tests.
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Countries can be moved between lists at any time.
But Ryanair CEO O’Leary has called the system a “shambles”.
Earlier this week he stated: “UK tourism and aviation needs a pragmatic travel policy, which permits vaccinated UK and EU citizens to travel between the UK and the EU without the need for quarantine or negative PCR tests.
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“This will at least allow the UK tourism industry to plan for what is left of the summer season and get hundreds of thousands of people back to work.”
Ryanair’s boss has called the / Image: Photo by Fotis Christopoulos via Unsplash
Charlie Cornish, MAG CEO, released a statement earlier this month claiming it was “clear the government doesn’t trust its own system” – which he called “not fit for purpose.”
He wrote: “The lack of transparency is shocking and totally unacceptable. If the Government has information that supports its decisions, then it needs to publish it. We have repeatedly asked for this data, but we are being left in the dark about how it is making these choices, with no opportunity for scrutiny or challenge.
“That is not the way to go about limiting people’s freedoms and crippling the country’s travel and tourism sectors. With so much at stake, we need immediate transparency and urgent action to make this system of travel restrictions fit for purpose.”
A government spokesperson said it could not comment on specific legal proceedings, but confirmed: “We recognise this is a challenging period for the sector, as we seek to balance the timely reopening of international travel while safeguarding public health and protecting the vaccine roll-out.”
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“We have provided £7bn to help support for the industry during the pandemic.”
Featured image: Flickr
News
Former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson is heading to Manchester on a new world tour
Daisy Jackson
Ex-One Direction star Louis Tomlinson will perform a huge gig in Manchester next year as part of a newly-announced world tour.
The singer-songwriter will be heading to the Co-op Live arena with his ‘How Did We Get Here?’ tour in 2026.
The 33-year-old star, formerly one-fifth of hit boyband One Direction, announced the news hot on the heels of the release of his latest single Lemonade.
Doncaster-born Louis Tomlinson will visit UK cities including Leeds, Birmingham, Glasgow, Brighton and London, as well as that massive show in Manchester.
Louis continues to establish himself as one of the UK’s top live performers, with hits like Back to You, Just Hold On, and fan-favourite tracks from his critically acclaimed albums.
He launched himself as a solo artist back in 2020 with Walls, shifting more than 1.2 million copies worldwide and amassing nearly 1 billion streams.
He then went on to release Faith In The Future in 2022 (a chart-topping album in the UK and top five in the US).
This new world tour will showcase his evolution from global pop superstar to respected solo artist.
Louis Tomlinson will perform at the Co-op Live arena on Friday 24 April, 2026.
Tickets will go on sale at 9am on Friday 10 October HERE.
Heaton Park announces the death of another one of its beloved resident donkeys
Emily Sergeant
Another one of Heaton Park’s beloved resident donkeys has sadly passed away, the park has announced this week.
Back in May of this year, Heaton Park shared the devastating news that one of its well-known resident donkeys called Lenny had been diagnosed with an endocrine disease, and would therefore have to start undergoing specialist medical treatment moving forward.
The treatment Lenny would be receiving was to support his health during his retirement, as not long prior to his diagnosis, he had reached approximately 30 years of age.
Considering that The Donkey Sanctuary says the average life expectancy for a donkey is just over 30, reaching this age was said to be a ‘significant achievement’ for Lenny and everyone who cared for him.
Sadly though, as the months went on, things started taking a turn for the worse.
Heaton Park‘s Estates Team requested an onsite vet visit after identifying some changes with Lenny’s health, and these changes were subsequently linked to a condition called hyperlipaemia.
It’s with ‘great sadness’ that the park had to announce to the public that Lenny passed away later that same day.
“Lenny was a staple in Heaton Park and was a significant star in the memories of both staff and our visitors, he will be deeply missed by us all,” the Estates Team said in a touching tribute shared on the park’s social media.
Lenny’s passing unfortunately comes not long after the death of one of Heaton Park’s post well-known resident donkeys, Ralph, who died in early June of this year at the grand old age of 40 years old – with many tributes being paid to him.
Following both Lenny and Ralph’s deaths, the Estates Team has assured visitors that the remaining two resident donkeys, Bonnie and Josh, are ‘doing well’ and are being ‘monitored closely’
Bonnie and Josh are being monitored closely for ‘any changes in behaviour which could indicate stress’ as a result of Lenny’s unexpected passing, as the Estates Team says that visitors may notice them on ‘a few extra walks’ around the park over the coming weeks.
The Manc -
17th June 2021 
