Travel industry experts are hoping that Covid rules are relaxed in the next review.
As the rise of Omicron concerned the UK Government, pre-departure tests and day two Covid tests came back into force for everyone, including those who are fully vaccinated.
Travel bosses criticised the move, calling on the Government to scrap them as they argued it was an expensive cost and damaged the industry, already hit hard by the pandemic.
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The current travel rules made in the UK has so far been followed by the Scottish Government.
The next review is on January 5.
However, as Travel Weekly reports, an aviation source admitted they weren't too hopeful.
The source said: “We’re not super optimistic. It depends what the government decides with domestic restrictions. If there are a lot more restrictions domestically we’ll be in a very different ball game.
“We don’t think they’ll ban international travel. But it’s difficult to see them removing the test requirements [at the January 5 review]. The problem with these rules is they are sticky.
“The pre-departure test – which is the one the industry hates most – is the test the medics most want. The Department of Health says the pre-departure tests are necessary to see we don’t import another variant," the source argued.
“Let’s hope by the end of January or beginning of February we see some easement.”
They explained to Travel Weekly : “The UK tends to get any variant first and there was always a risk that other countries wouldn’t want us and would impose restrictions.
“Delta and now Omicron came to the UK first because of the UK’s better links with the global world – of course, it is aviation making this virus travel around the world.”
The source argued: “Omicron will probably run through the UK population quite quickly, with Europe about two to three weeks behind us. The problem with them being behind us is that by the time we’re ready to travel, they won’t be.”
A second airline source agreed, saying: “We’ll be pleasantly surprised if they remove the tests [on January 5]. We don’t expect it. It’s a minefield for international travel.”
Abta- The Travel Association have called for “the immediate lifting of unnecessary travel restrictions” and for “tailored winter resilience grants for the travel sector, similar to those announced for hospitality” after the Chancellor unveiled a £1 billion support package for hospitality and leisure businesses yesterday.
“Once again ignored the direct impact of policy decisions on businesses reliant on international travel”, Luke Petherbridge, Abta director of public affairs, said.
He insisted: “We urgently need ministers to engage with us to find solutions to keep businesses afloat.”
Airline bosses came together to write to the Government to ask for rules to be relaxed. You can read the whole letter here.
Day later, all the countries on the red list were removed.
However strict testing rules still apply.
