Glaswegians are not allowed to travel to Glasgow Airport to go on holiday under new restrictions that come into force on Friday.
The issue was clarified today via evidence given to members of Holyrood's Covid committee by Scottish Cabinet Secretary Mike Russell.
He was asked by Lib Dems leader Willie Rennie if international travel would be banned under the new restrictions, with Mr Russell responding that it would not be, but that any travel to the airport in order to take a non-essential flight would be illegal.
The Cabinet Secretary said: “International travel won’t be illegal because that is for the UK to do that, but travelling to the airport or to a port for that purpose would be against the regulations.”
Mr Russell was then asked by Mr Rennie if people who live in Glasgow could travel to Glasgow Airport to go on a non-essential international trip, to which he replied: "No, I don't believe they can, no."
The new travel regulations, which come into force on Friday, make it illegal for Glaswegians to travel outside of the local authority area except for a limited number of essential purposes.
These exceptions - which apply to travel into or out of Level 3 and 4 local authority areas, or to or from other parts of the UK - include travel for work, to meet a legal obligation, to visit a person receiving treatment in a hospital, to move house and to provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person.
The Scottish Government has since clarified to Glasgow Live that people travelling to Glasgow Airport from Level 1 and Level 2 areas to travel on holiday will not be in breach of the new restrictions.
However, a Scottish Government spokesman said: "We would stress that the First Minister is very clearly asking people not to book overseas travel unless it is absolutely essential".
