Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Britain, pressed by airlines, may ease rules for vaccinated travellers

Published 16/06/2021, 22:17
Updated 17/06/2021, 14:23
© Reuters. Passengers wait at the Terminal 5 departures area at Heathrow Airport in London, Britain, June 10, 2021. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

© Reuters. Passengers wait at the Terminal 5 departures area at Heathrow Airport in London, Britain, June 10, 2021. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

By Alistair Smout and Sarah Young

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain is considering easing travel rules for double vaccinated people, a move that would placate airlines which have launched legal action against the government's curbs on trips abroad.

Airlines are desperate for restrictions to be relaxed in time for July and the peak season when they make most profits, while Britain has for now stuck to quarantine rules that deter travel.

Europe's biggest airline Ryanair teamed up with Manchester Airports Group (MAG) to launch legal action against Britain over its travel policy. Other airlines could join.

The pair filed papers for judicial review at England's High Court at about 1200 GMT on Thursday, a spokesman for MAG said.

But Britain has indicated a possible relaxation, with the Department for Transport saying on Thursday it was considering how vaccinations could be used for inbound travel.

More than half of British adults have received both doses of COVID-19 vaccine, putting it far ahead of Europe.

The Daily Telegraph reported Britain was looking to follow the European Union's move to allow fully vaccinated tourists to avoid COVID-19 tests and quarantine from July.

"We have commenced work to consider the role of vaccinations in shaping a different set of health and testing measures for inbound travel," a government spokesperson said on Thursday.

Shares in airline stocks jumped on hopes of rule changes. Ryanair and British Airways-owned IAG (LON:ICAG) were up 3%, while easyJet (LON:EZJ) and holiday group TUI (LON:TUIT) were 4% higher. Jet2 rose 5%.

Peel Hunt analyst Alex Paterson said the government's more open minded approach represented progress for an industry which has endured more than 15 months of depressed revenues.

"From the point of view of sentiment that they're saying they're going to look at this, that is good news," he said.

'OPAQUE' SYSTEM

Ryanair and other airlines have repeatedly called on the government to allow vaccinated travellers to avoid quarantine, as well as urging an easing of restrictions to some lower risk countries like Malta and Spanish and Greek islands.

EasyJet said it was supportive of legal action and would monitor its progress.

Ryanair's boss Michael O'Leary has said Britain's travel policy was "a shambles", describing it as an "opaque" system classifying destinations as green, amber or red, with each colour carrying progressively tougher rules related to testing and quarantine.

The government delayed fully reopening the domestic economy on Monday due to rising infections. But industry hopes have grown with indications Britain may now soften its stance on travel.

"This is very welcome news and should represent a meaningful restart to international travel in the very near future," Jet2 chief executive Steve Heapy said on Thursday.

The safe list of 'green' destinations is due to be updated on June 24 and the government said in April it would review travel policy before the end of June.

Jesse Norman, financial secretary to the Treasury, told Sky News on Thursday that nothing was ruled out on travel rules.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: An aircraft takes off at Heathrow Airport amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in London, Britain, February 4, 2021. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

"We are trying to move cautiously and progressively in the right direction so I wouldn't write anything off at this point," he said.

Britain allowed international travel to resume in May, but nearly all major destinations like Spain, France, Italy and the United States were left off the 'green' safe list. Those visiting 'amber' countries must quarantine for 10 days on their return and take multiple tests. 'Red' countries have tougher rules.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.