Heapy, chief executive of the package operator and its sister airline Jet2.com, welcomed the emptying of the red list on Tuesday (14 December) but slammed the “disproportionate and excessive” restrictions still in place for over the Christmas holidays.

South Africa and 10 other African nations added to the red list late last month were removed from 4am on Wednesday (15 December), although ministers previously reintroduced more stringent testing measures - including pre-departure testing and Day 2 testing. 

Health secretary Sajid Javid told the Commons yesterday these "temporary" measures would remain in place, while transport secretary Grant Shapps later added the current testing regime would reviewed in the first week of January.

Heapy said that while Jet2holidays and Jet2.com “recognise how important safety is”, the brands failed to see how the current testing measures “add anything other than hassle, cost and disruption” to holidaymakers over the festive break.

“Like our customers, we are confused and frustrated that the health secretary has deemed travel restrictions as ‘less effective in slowing Omicron from abroad’, whilst at the same time the UK government continues to impose such harsh travel restrictions,” he said.

“The government seems to be telling us on one hand that travel restrictions are less effective, whilst on the other insisting that travel restrictions stay in place.

“We look forward to an update from the UK government as soon as possible. We know that customers will be watching very closely and expecting positive news too, at a time of year when they look forward to nothing more than booking their all-important holidays.”