Portugal Formally Removed from the UK Green List

As of 4 a.m. on Tuesday 8th June, Portugal was formally removed from the UK government’s quarantine-free green list.

The decision to put Portugal on the green list, which was first revealed on 7th May, was lauded by the travel sector as the first true indication of hope after 15 months of darkness.

On the 17th of May, Portugal was added to the green list after the government eased its prohibitions on non-essential international travel, resulting in the first large batch of vacation departures of the year.

However, less than three weeks after being placed on the green list, Grant Shapps announced on Thursday, 3rd June that Portugal would be removed, citing the increasing threat presented to the UK’s vaccination program and domestic health by new Covid-19 strains discovered in Portugal.

The move sparked outrage in the travel and aviation industries, with easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren claiming that it would effectively cut the UK off from the rest of the globe, claiming that the government had broken its own rules.

Meanwhile, Andrew Flintham, the CEO of Tui UK, has accused the government of failing to keep its commitment to the travel industry and customers. The decision was “very upsetting and perplexing,” according to British Airways.

Arrivals from Portugal will have to self-isolate at home for 10 days starting at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, 8th June, and take PCR tests on days two and eight after their return.