THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS are coming up and many families will be turning their attention to jetting off abroad.

However, with the current traffic light system in place it can be confusing to know exactly where to book and what restrictions you will face .

While most Covid restrictions are set to be lifted from July 19th many rules around travel- including the current traffic light system- are set to stick around.

However, the rules will be relaxed slightly and today (8 July) Transport Secretary Grant Shapps detailed his plans to MPs on Thursday to free up foreign holidays as coronavirus restrictions are eased.

He confirmed that holidaymakers from the UK who have received two jabs will no longer be required to self-isolate for 10 days on their return to England from destinations on the amber list.

People aged under 18 will also be exempted from the requirement and the guidance not to travel to countries on the amber list will be lifted from July 19.

However, they will still be required to take a Covid-19 test three days before returning.

If you want to plan a summer holiday but aren’t sure about where you can travel to, we have have rounded up all of the green and amber list destinations you can travel to from Manchester Airport.

Here’s everything you need to know:

What does Manchester Airport think about the traffic light system?

Manchester Airport has been very open about their frustration of the current traffic light system in place.

Along with Ryanair, MAG (Manchester Airports Group) announced in June that they will be launch a legal challenge calling for transparency in the Government’s handling of its traffic light travel system. 

The aviation businesses say the Government has not been clear about how it has made decisions about the categorisation of countries as red, amber or green.

Charlie Cornish, MAG CEO said: After more than a year of disruption, consumers deserve more clarity so they can book with confidence.

“And as an industry, we need to understand how the Government’s traffic light system works so that we can make the right decisions for the future.

“The Government has been unwilling to provide that transparency and that is why we have been forced into bringing a legal challenge to secure more information, along with five key industry partners.”

How does the traffic light system work?

The UK government has launched a new ‘traffic light system’ under which countries will be classed as red, amber or green.

As listed on the Manchester Airport website, here are the steps involved in travelling to the countries in each category and the rules for testing and quarantine:

Green – for those countries posing a minimal risk

  • Fill in a passenger locator form
  • Take a pre-departure test
  • Book a test package from a government-approved provider before travel
  • Take a PCR test on or before day 2 of arrival
  • If the test is negative, passengers don’t need to quarantine or take any further tests

Amber – for those countries posing a moderate risk

Arrivals to England must:

  • Fill in a passenger locator form
  • Take a pre-departure test
  • Book a test package from a government-approved provider before travel
  • Quarantine at home for 10 days
  • Take a PCR test on day 2 and day 8 of your return*
  • * arrivals from amber list countries can use test to release on day 5 to end quarantine early

From July 19 holidaymakers from the UK who have received two jabs (and those under 18) will no longer be required to self-isolate for 10 days on their return to England from destinations on the amber list.

Red – for those countries posing a high risk

Arrivals to England must:

  • Fill in a passenger locator form (including details of quarantine package)
  • Take a pre-departure test and get a negative result in the three days before travel
  • Book a quarantine package – including a managed quarantine hotel, quarantine transport and the travel test package – from a government-approved provider before travel
  • Quarantine for 10 days in a managed quarantine hotel
  • Take a PCR test on day 2 and day 8 of your return (with no option for early release)

Places you can fly to from Manchester Airport

Green list:

Here are some direct flights you can catch from the airport, according to the airport's A-Z destination guide:

  • Antigua
  • Ibiza
  • Menorca
  • Gibraltar
  • Malta
  • Singapore

Amber list:  

  • Cuba
  • Hong Kong
  • Luxembourg
  • Mauritius
  • Montenegro
  • Morocco
  • Canary Islands:  Tenerife
  • Lanzarote
  • Gran Canaria
  • Fuerteventura
  • La Palma
  • St Lucia

Are you planning a holiday abroad this summer?