LOCALLY based holiday firm Jet2.com has extended the suspension of its flights and holidays until June 23, despite the Government announcing international travel could return from May 17.

Jet2's chief executive said he was "extremely disappointed" at the Government's traffic light system's lack of detail.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps was on the media trail this morning to reveal the new system, which will rate countries green, amber or red on how safe they are to visit and what restrictions will be in place around them.

READ MORE: Government unveils traffic light system for return of international travel from May 17 at the earliest.

However, Jet2.com boss Steve Heapy has criticised the plans and suspended Jet2's flights and holidays until beyond the end of the roadmap out of lockdown.

He said: “We have taken time to study the Global Travel Taskforce’s framework, and we are extremely disappointed at the lack of clarity and detail.

“After several weeks exploring how to restart international travel, with substantial assistance and input from the industry, the framework lacks any rigorous detail about how to get international travel going again. In fact, the framework is virtually the same as six months ago.

“Following the publication of the framework today, we still do not know when we can start to fly, where we can fly to and the availability and cost of testing.

"Rather than answering questions, the framework leaves everyone asking more.

“Because of the continued uncertainty that the framework provides, it is with a heavy heart that we have taken the decision to extend the suspension of flights and holidays up to and including June 23.”

The Government's framework has come under heavy criticism from the travel industry this morning, with Heathrow Airport boss John Holland-Kaye saying the plans make “no sense” and making foreign holidays this year “just something for the wealthy”.

The requirement of taking multiple expensive private Covid tests is one area that has come under fire, and Mr Shapps said he is looking at ways of making testing cheaper.