Trending 5th June 2020 by Denise Curtin

International Travel For Irish People Set To Return ‘Within Weeks’

Travel will be allowed from Ireland to countries that have 'flattened the curve'.

International travel restrictions for Irish citizens are set to be lifted within the next couple of weeks.

Speaking today, June 5, to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys explained that travel will soon be possible for Irish people to countries where Covid-19 has been successfully flattened.

Explaining that travel will return via “air bridges”, Humphreys noted that these air bridges will allow other countries who are making good progress the same degree of flexibility to travel to Ireland as Irish citizens to their countries. These air bridges have been noted as a “small step” in repairing some of the damage caused to the travel sector in recent months.

However, although this is positive news for those wanting to get away and for the airline industry, Humphreys noted that now isn’t the time to book holidays and encouraged people to hold off on plans.

Continuing, she explained that although this is challenging for everyone, the “virus has no mercy” and we must act smartly and slowly when it comes to easing restrictions.

Emirates airlines announced yesterday that from June 15 it will be resuming flights between Dublin and Dubai.

In a statement, Emirates said it will resume flights from Dublin and 15 other cities following the decision by the United Arab Emirates federal government to lift restrictions on transit passenger services.

Aer Lingus is also calling for the 14-day quarantine to be scrapped.

In an interview on Nuacht a hAon on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, the airline’s chief corporate affairs officer Donal Moriarty said more “clarity” is needed in order to open up Ireland’s tourism sector again.

“We don’t think it’s necessary. In other countries in the EU, tourism is starting up again, or they have certainty around dates when they can open again … for example, Spain is opening at the start of July, and they have no quarantine.”

Echoing Humpreys words to not book holidays, Leo Varadkar revealed that summer 2020 is however “not lost yet”, and that these plans in motion could see Irish citizens getting the opportunity to move more freely and safely.

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