Yahoo Finance UK holidaymakers will struggle to visit Greece from 'safe' UK airports
Greece has clarified that Britons can avoid quarantine if travelling from airports not included on a high risk list, but options are limited
British holidaymakers’ hopes of a quarantine-free trip to Greece are looking somewhat gloomy, despite the country confirming that Britons could visit from mid-June.
The Greek government confirmed on Monday that Britons would be able to travel to Greece from June 15 and would face more or less strict screening measures depending on which airport they flew from.
Those travelling from airports on the EASA list would all be tested and face seven days of quarantine if they test negative or 14 days if they test positive. Tourists coming from airports not on the list would only be subject to random testing.
“There are already UK airports from which, after June 15, visitors may come to Greece without going through quarantine,” tourism minister Harry Theoharis told the Telegraph. These airports include Southend, Edinburgh and Bristol, yet there are no direct flights between these 'safe' UK airports and Greece between June 15 and July 1. Mr Theorharis added that the EASA list would be renewed weekly in the run up to June 15.
Meanwhile, the EASA told Telegraph Travel on June 4 that countries should not be using this list to determine travel restrictions.
“There is a lot of confusion about what this list means. Its purpose is simply to indicate routes on which extra disinfecting of aircraft should take place to avoid spread of COVID-19. There is no travel ban or travel warning associated with this,” said an EASA spokesperson.
Yet the Greek Embassy and tourism board maintains that the current advice (based on the EASA list) still stands, although the country is revising decisions daily. As such, between June 15 and July 1 international flights will run to Athens and Thessaloniki airports - those flying from airports not on the EASA list will only be subject to random testing.
For British holidaymakers this will require finding a connection through another airport not on the list, bearing in mind that the list is continually updated.
Britons could try to reach Greece through circuitous routes between June 15 and July 1. Wizz Air is running regular flights from Edinburgh to Athens, with a stop in Budapest, which is not currently on the EASA list. There are also regular flights from Edinburgh to Athens, via Zurich - another airport not on the list.
A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: “Our understanding is that it is the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control that developed the list and it is based on the R number in particular locations. We’ve had no communication with EASA on it.
“Given the UK Government’s muddled quarantine policy any such list is rendered irrelevant as no-one will be travelling to or from the UK, causing untold damage to the UK tourism industry and economy.”
From July 1, international flights will be permitted to all airports in Greece and visitors will be subject to random tests. However, the Greek government plans to continue to adhere to the EASA list and passengers from “blacklisted” airports might still be subject to further testing measures into July.
However, July will bring more flight options from the British airports not on the EASA list. Wizz Air is offering frequent flights in July from Southend to Athens with a connection in Bucharest, which is not currently included on the EASA list.
The FCO is advising against all non-essential international travel and travelling against FCO advice will invalidate virtually all insurance policies. From June 8, arrivals in the UK will be subject to a 14-day quarantine.
