Coronavirus news: Jet2 suspends flights until June as England R-rate remains between 0.8 and 1

Travel firm Jet2 has suspended all flights and holidays up to and including 23 June over uncertainty due to UK government travel proposals, the CEO has announced.

The company announced the move as travel industry leaders criticised the government’s new plans to allow international travel to continue from 17 May as unaffordable and risked “making flying only for the wealthy”.

Plans drawn up by a taskforce under transport secretary Grant Shapps will follow a traffic light system to divide destinations based on coronavirus infection risk. But arrivals from even the safest countries will be required a take a Covid test prior to departure and a PCR test after arrival, which could cost as much as £200.

Meanwhile, government figures showed England’s coronavirus reproduction number - or R value - was unchanged from last week, remaining between 0.8 and 1.

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