**Update: 05/09/21 @ 10:18 UTC – Wizz Air UK has updated the resumption list; details below.**

The government of the United Kingdom yesterday shared that from May 17th, 12 countries will be on England’s green travel list. Subsequently, Wizz Air has announced that it is restarting flights to five destinations on the same date. The low-cost carrier is proud to share that flights to Faro, Lisbon, Tel Aviv, Reykjavik, and Gibraltar will commence this month.

Wizz Air UK Airbus
Wizz Air UK is looking forward to deploying its Airbus A320 family aircraft across Europe this summer. Photo: Airbus

Opening up the skies

Travel for tourism has been banned for those in the UK since the turn of the year. However, authorities are slowly opening things up again this month with a three-tier traffic light system. Those flying into England from these green list countries won't need to quarantine on arrival to the country. They just need to take a pre-departure test up to 72 hours before flying in, and a single PCR test on or before day two of arrival.

The countries on this list are the following:

  • Gibraltar
  • Israel
  • Portugal
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Brunei
  • Iceland
  • Faroe Islands
  • Tristan Da Cunha
  • St Helena
  • Ascension
  • Falkland Islands
  • Singapore
  • South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Wizz Air UK originally had Larnaca as part of the green list relaunches. However, according to the UK government’s website, Cyprus is in the amber tier. Passengers flying in from amber countries must take a second PCR test on day eight and quarantine at home for ten days. Moreover, if they take a third negative test on day five, the quarantine process can be finished earlier. Thus, the airline’s representatives have now sent a revised green travel resumption list, with Tel Aviv on the books.

Wizz Air UK Livery
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have not yet shared when they will ease restrictions, but the UK government's officials have said that all nations have agreed on the principles of a traffic light system. Photo: Wizz Air

Brighter prospects

Owain Jones, MD of Wizz Air UK, has previously spoken with Simple Flying about his company’s ambitions. Today, he shares his excitement about travel opening up again.

The Wizz Air team welcomes the announcement from the UK government on the green list countries for the restart of international travel. At WIZZ, we are prepared to ramp up operations quickly when restrictions ease, with the recent delivery of four brand new A321neo aircraft and the expansion of our UK network,” Jones said in a company statement.

“In the past year alone, we have launched over 20 new routes to Europe and beyond, providing affordable airfares to exciting destinations. We are looking forward to welcoming passengers back on board our young, green aircraft, where they can rely on our stringent health and hygiene measures and excellent service as they head to their post lockdown getaway.”

Wizz Air UK A321
Wizz Air already operates an extensive fleet of A320 and A320neo family aircraft. Photo: Getty Images.

Additional hurdles to overcome

Flights to these destinations can be booked now. Despite the buzz around this weekend's announcements, Wizz Air UK may have been expecting more from the government’s update. The airline’s summer sale included flights to several leisure destinations across Europe.

Notably, there were new routes launched to destinations across Bulgaria, Spain, Greece, and Turkey. Then, following the national announcement a few months ago that travel could reopen from May 17th, there was a surge in bookings.

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Jones previously highlighted Wizz Air UK’s high capacity to the likes of Spain and Greece to Simple Flying. So, there is still a lot to be desired when it comes to transporting more passengers across the wider network. However, the government has hinted that additional popular spots may be added to the green list after reviews every three weeks. So, there is further hope.

Nonetheless, this week’s announcements are a saving grace for carriers serving the UK. There were murmurs that the reopening of travel may be pushed back even further. Therefore, this news at least gets the ball rolling again for the recovery process to begin.

Wizz Air isn’t the only LCC making the most out of the update. Ryanair also swiftly scaled up services to Portugal this week.

Regardless, Wizz Air UK will be keeping a close eye on the progress. After all, it is planning to serve 80 destinations from 11 airports across the UK.

What are your thoughts about Wizz Air UK’s flight resumptions? Let us know what you think in the comment section.