Thursday. 28.03.2024

Low-cost airline Ryanair on Monday said it plans to cut 20% of regular flights in September and October after several European nations reimposed Covid-19 quarantine rules for arrivals.

The reduction in flight capacity comes after forward bookings "notably weakened over the last 10 days, given continuing uncertainty over recent Covid case rates in some EU countries," the airline said.

Most of the cuts will be reductions in frequency rather than suspension of routes, it said.

They will focus on countries including Spain, France, Sweden and Ireland.

Ireland has imposed a "uniquely restrictive Green List" that requires visitors from most other EU nations, including those with lower recent infection rates, Ryanair said.

Testing at airports

"Proper testing at airports, and effective tracing - as is being conducted in Germany and Italy - is the only realistic and proportionate method of supervising safe intra-EU air travel while effectively limiting the spread of the Covid-19 virus," a spokesperson said.

Britain, one of Ryanair's biggest markets, has reimposed a 14-day self-isolation requirement for arrivals from countries including Spain, France and Sweden.

Ryanair cuts 20% of autumn flights amid new quarantine rules