The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK) has welcomed the Government’s changes to rules for international travellers.
Earlier today Transport Secretary Grant Schapps sent out a series of tweets marking the alterations to the UK travel rules.
This had benn after a long anticipated wait during the day to see what changes would be made.
What are the changes to the UK travel rules?
The previous traffic light system has been scrapped, with a single red list of countries that cannot be travelled to.
TRAVEL UPDATE🔊: we’re making testing easier for travel 🧳💉 From Mon 4 Oct, if you’re fully vax you won’t need a pre-departure test before arrival into England from a non-red country and from later in Oct, will be able to replace the day 2 PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow.
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) September 17, 2021
In addition from Monday 4 October those who are fully vaccinated a pre-departure test before arrival into England from a non-red country won't be required.
Later in the month the day two PCR tests will be able to be replaced by cheaper lateral flow tests.
Additionally, from 4am on Wednesday 22 September eight countries and territories will come off the red list.
They are Turkey, the Maldives, Pakistan, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Oman, Bangladesh and Kenya.
What was the reaction from the airline industry?
Dale Keller, chief executive of BAR UK said: “Greater freedom of movement for many vaccinated passengers, without the anxiety of pre-departure tests and the high cost of PCR testing on arrival, will help restore traveller confidence and set the aviation, travel and tourism sectors on what is still a long road to recovery.
Keller also praised the move from the traffic light system to a two-tier status which brings “greater clarity” to entry requirements.
He added: “This is to be applauded, however the revised system can only work effectively – and without discrimination, when fully vaccinated status is recognised for all travellers to the UK.
“Testing requirements for many remains costly and excessive, and a significant number of inbound markets for the UK will still remain unfairly treated.
“The UK’s complex and costly travel restrictions decimated passenger volumes over the summer while much of Europe capitalised on vaccination roll-out by rebuilding their connectivity.
“Today’s announcement is a step towards properly re-balancing international travel risk with the Government’s domestic Covid response, and will enable the UK to begin to claw back lost ground as airlines attempt to rebuild their operations.
“Over the coming weeks airlines will continue their engagement with the UK Government on rapidly expanding international vaccination recognition so to develop strategies with the ambition of normalising travel as soon as feasible.”
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