The UK government is considering easing England's Covid-19 rules for international travel in a late-season boost for airlines, holiday and tourism companies who say they will not survive another winter of onerous rules and red tape.
While Europe has relaxed travel restrictions for the fully vaccinated, expensive Covid-19 testing requirements remain in place for fully vaccinated arrivals into Britain, preventing a travel recovery as the tougher winter period nears. But a rule change could be announced later today.
"The Covid sub-committee of cabinet that decides these things will be considering that probably later today," Agriculture Secretary George Eustice told Sky News.
Airports, airlines and travel companies have warned the government of more job losses if it does not scrap the private testing and so-called traffic light system which ranks destinations as green, amber and red.
According to reports, the government will remove the requirement for fully vaccinated travellers to take a lateral flow test before departing their destination and a costly PCR test on their return into the UK, which can add hundreds of pounds per person to a trip. Reports said ministers will also simplify the destination categories into either low or high risk, scrapping amber.
Data shows that Britain's recovery is lagging. UK flights were down 39 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels for the two weeks to September 6, while France, Spain and Italy were down between 24-28%, according to Eurocontrol.
On the red list there are currently 62 countries, a designation that requires 11 nights in a quarantine hotel at a cost of more than £2000. Quarantine hotels are expected to remain in place for red list arrivals.
Any change to the travel rules will apply to England, but devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland could later follow suit.
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