Under the three-tier EU system, the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) has confirmed that travel to 15 EU countries could go ahead without any travel restrictions.

Countries and regions within the EU would be designated red, orange or green status, depending on their Covid-19 levels, under the plan. There would be no restrictions between countries or regions with orange or green status.

The proposal is due to be discussed on Tuesday (13 October) at the EU’s General Affairs Council in Brussels.

Ryanair chief executive Eddie Wilson said: “The implementation of this co-ordinated regional approach will help restore consumer confidence ahead of a difficult winter season, and also allow all airlines plan for summer 2021, with millions of jobs dependent on the recovery of our aviation and tourism sectors.

“EU governments need to act fast and implement the EU traffic light system immediately following next week’s council meeting and give Europe’s tourism economies the relief that’s much needed.”

The Irish government has indicated that it plans to implement the EU traffic light system, even though it will remove all four remaining countries from its “green list” of destinations on Monday (12 October).