Brittany Ferries calls for 're-think' of travel corridors from UK to EU as 15 million Brits get Covid vaccine

The head of Brittany Ferries has called on the government to consider lifting travel bans in the spring.

It came as the 15-millionth person in Britain received their Covid vaccination yesterday – the largest number of doses in Europe.

Christophe Mathieu, chief executive Brittany Ferries, argued that by summer millions more adults in the UK would be vaccinated.

That, combined with France’s target to have at 43 million of its citizens immunised by June, would slash the dangers of intercontinental travel.

The travel chief said the reduced risk would open up the gateway for safe travel between its base in Portsmouth and France – as well as ports in Spain.

‘Vaccine roll-out is moving apace in the UK, thanks to the NHS, volunteers and support of the armed forces,' said Mr Mathieu.

‘While France and Spain are a little behind, the ramp-up is gaining significant momentum.

‘We all believe that vaccines are the way out of this dreadful crisis. So by spring we think there will be a clear case for the adoption of vaccination-led travel corridors – or in our case sea lanes – that allow holidays to go ahead this summer and for hope to return.’

Under current rules, travel abroad is banned – unless for a legally permitted reason – by the government.

It is illegal to travel abroad for holidays and other leisure purposes.

In a major milestone for Britain, vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi yesterday confirmed more than 15 million people had been vaccinated.

The herculean achievement was reached in just over two months after the first jab was delivered to the UK on December 8.

Tweeting about the news, Mr Zahawi said: ‘15,000,000! Amazing team. We will not rest till we offer the vaccine to the whole of phase1 the 1-9 categories of the most vulnerable & all over 50s by end (of) April and then all adults.’

Despite the achievement, cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt warned there was still a lot more left to do before travel bans could be lifted safely.

The Portsmouth North MP told The News: ‘Of course everyone wants to get travel going again, but only when it is safe to do so. The vaccination programme is going well and that should give us some hope for the future.

‘There is a huge amount of work going on with other nations when these decisions are taken.’

Dozens of Tory MPs ramped up the pressure on the prime minister over the weekend, urging him to ease lockdown restrictions by the end of April.

The Covid Recovery Group –- made up of 63 MPs – said that by this time all nine priority groups are likely to have received the vaccine, so there will be no justification for ‘unnecessary restrictions’.

Boris Johnson claimed he is aiming for a ‘cautious' relaxing of rules, which could see some restrictions eased in the next few months.

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