Ryanair says UK lagging Europe on post-COVID recovery

Britain is lagging the aviation recovery in the rest of Europe due to confusing COVID-19 restrictions and its airports will struggle in the coming winter, Ryanair executives said Tuesday. "Most European markets are recuperating ... the exception is the UK (where) there's this continued confusion," said Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair DAC, Ryanair Group's largest airline. "It’s going to be a difficult winter for us - we’re stimulating (passenger numbers) with lower fares." While it would not be difficult to reach high passenger volumes over Christmas in Europe, British airports would likely struggle over the period, Ryanair Group CEO Michael O'Leary told reporters in a separate event in Rome on Wednesday. "Places like Heathrow and Gatwick (are) struggling with ... Brexit border controls and COVID," O'Leary noted. Both executives referenced travel debacles this summer when the UK abruptly changed the risk classifications of destinations thousands of Britons were holidaying in, causing frustration and anger amongst tourists forced to book expensive diagnostic tests and undergo lengthy quarantines. "People remember what happened in Portugal, and more recently Montenegro," Wilson said. "They need certainty and we've seen bookings reflect almost exactly people's level of confidence."<br/>