He called for the regime to be simplified and made "less confusing" for holidaymakers, and urged the UK government to open up travel "properly".

His comments come following the Department for Transport’s (DFT) announcement on Thursday (26 August) which saw Canada, Denmark and Switzerland among the seven destinations to move from amber to green, while Thailand and Montenegro added to the red list.

Heapy welcomed the fact that travellers can now visit more than 40 green and amber destinations, but added the update "is still nothing like a meaningful return to travel".

"With so many areas of everyday life able to open up properly, it is frustrating that the simple concept of taking a much-needed holiday should still be subject to a different and stricter set of rules," he added. "International travel must try and operate with the handbrake applied yet so many other industries can reopen freely."

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays customers due to travel to amber and red list destinations will be contacted directly by the airline and operator.

"Due to the volume of enquiries we are currently receiving, we urge customers and independent travel agents not to contact us so that we can prioritise those who are due to travel," Heapy said.