Coronavirus: Welsh Government asks Ryanair to drop flights

Wales' "stay local" guidance on travel is in place until Monday, 6 July

Ryanair flights will proceed at Cardiff Airport despite pleas to wait until the end of Wales' five-mile travel guidance.

The airline said flights to and from Spain and Portugal would go ahead on Friday despite ministers' objections.

It said "hundreds of Welsh people" would be returning from nations with 'R' rates lower than the UK's.

Cardiff Airport is owned by the Welsh Government, whose "stay local" rules end on 6 July.

A spokesman for the administration said: "We don't believe these flights should be going ahead."

Economy Minister Ken Skates said he expected a "vast proportion" of passengers would not turn up for flights.

He acknowledged some people will be travelling on compassionate grounds or for work, but said otherwise "stay local".

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"Everybody needs to be continuing to contribute to the national effort and it is for individuals to take responsibility now," he said.

"We know that a huge proportion of the tickets sold for these flights were sold up to 12 months ago.

"We don't know how many passengers will actually turn up at the airport."

Sophie, from Cardiff, blasted the communication between the two sides, saying passengers had been left "in limbo" and will lose hundreds of pounds.

She and her partner had been due to fly to Faro, in Portugal, on Friday but decided against it because he has health problems.

Sophie said Ryanair wanted an extra £280 to change the date, and she added: "They're expecting us to break the law just to get to the airport."

The Welsh Government does not want people travelling to go on holiday

Cardiff Airport said airlines would "slowly re-start flying passenger services, increasing in August".

Conservative Senedd member, Andrew RT Davies, said the position the Welsh Government was taking on the matter was "pretty pathetic".

People in Wales have been asked to stay local, within five miles, as a guideline.

These restrictions are expected to be lifted from Monday, 6 July, so people can "travel as far as they like for all purposes."

Tourism in Wales is not due to re-open until the following week on 13 July.

Cardiff Airport was bought by the Welsh Government in 2013

From 6 July people in England can travel to some European countries without having to spend 14 days in quarantine on their return, but no decision has been made on this in Wales.

The Welsh Government said to slow the spread of coronavirus, the law in Wales requires people to "stay local and not to travel further than five miles unless they have a reasonable excuse".

It said: "While there are legitimate reasons why flights can operate, the onus is on individuals to obey the rules."

It said all travellers entering Wales from overseas need to self-isolate for 14 days to prevent the further spread of the virus.

Cardiff Airport said it had remained open throughout the pandemic to support essential flying including critical cargo and medical flights.

It said: "During July our airlines will slowly re-start flying passenger services, increasing in August.

"All airlines are making decisions about reinstating flights on a global basis and the situation remains fluid.

"We continue to follow government guidance and work closely with Public Health Wales to keep the safety of our team and customers as our number one priority."

Cardiff Airport was sold to the Welsh Government for £52m in 2013.

Mr Davies accused Welsh Government ministers of "blaming Ryanair and the management at Cardiff Airport after the embarrassment of being caught out".

"You bought the airport, fund it, you even run the country and could stop this if you really wanted to," he said.