Amber list travel restrictions eased
CHILDREN and adults who have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus will not have to quarantine on their return from amber list countries to England from July 19.
Airlines welcomed the plans as a positive step to open up foreign holidays after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps made the announcement to MPs yesterday.
Holidaymakers from the UK who have received two jabs from the NHS will no longer be required to self-isolate for 10 days on their return to England from destinations on the amber list from that point.
Mr Shapps said under-18s will also be exempted from the requirement and that the guidance not to travel to countries on the amber list will be lifted from July 19, when the majority of restrictions are expected to be eased in England.
He said people returning from holidays from amber destinations, such as France, Spain and Portugal, will still be required to take a Covid-19 test three days before returning.
They will also have to take a test on or before the second day of their return, but will be exempted from the day-eight test.
He told the Commons: “In essence, this means that for fully vaccinated travellers the requirements for green and amber list countries are the same.”
Airlines welcomed the changes, which the Transport Secretary said “may differ” in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye said: “This is excellent news that will give a muchneeded boost to millions of people across Britain looking forward to a more normal summer and reuniting with family and friends abroad.”
While the announcement is for UK residents only, Mr Shapps said ministers are “working to extend our approach to vaccinated passengers from important markets of holiday destinations later this summer, such as the United States and the EU”.
Johan Lundgren, easyJet’s chief executive, said: “We have always said that vaccination is the key to unlocking travel and now millions will finally be able to reunite with family and loved ones abroad or take that longawaited trip this summer.
“But with unnecessary testing staying in place, more needs to be done. We do not want to see a return to flying being a preserve of the rich, and expensive testing could sadly make travel out of reach for some this summer.”
British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle welcomed the “common sense approach”, adding: “While the quarantine requirement for amber countries is being lifted for fully vaccinated UK travellers, the Government needs to quickly extend this to all vaccinated travellers, agree a reciprocal deal with the US, add more countries to the green list and reduce the need for unnecessary, expensive tests,” he added.
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of the Airlines UK industry body, welcomed the announcement as a “positive move towards the genuine reopening” for the ailing sector.