The government says it hopes some holidays can go ahead from 17 May, but not before. After that date, some travel may be able to resume based on its traffic light system.
Whilst 17 May is the aim for non-essential travel to restart, it is dependent on a review of health data.
When holidays do restart the government will introduce a risk-based traffic light system for each country. The traffic lights will indicate the tests required and whether you need to quarantine.
Currently people returning to the UK from high-risk countries have to pay to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days. All other arrivals are required to quarantine at home. In future, the government’s green list will remove the quarantine requirements for certain countries, although you will still have to supply negative Covid-19 tests even if you have been vaccinated.
Senior Cabin Crew Member Oisín Leong, Chief Commercial Officer David Shepherd and Senior Cabin Crew Member Elizabeth Murphy photographed at the launch event. (Source: Aer Lingus)
In six months Barbadians who want to travel to England and Brits who wish to visit the Gem of the Caribbean will have a new option via Aer Lingus.
Aer Lingus is to launch its first-ever non-stop transatlantic services direct from Manchester to the US and the Caribbean creating in excess of 120 new jobs.
Aer Lingus will commence four new routes from Manchester Airport flying to New York John F Kennedy (JFK) and Orlando from July 29, to Barbados from October 20 and to Boston from summer 2022.
TUI has cancelled all its package holidays until May 17.
Andrew Flintham, Managing Director TUI UK and Ireland, said in a statement: “In line with the UK Government’s latest lockdown announcement, all TUI holidays from England will not operate before May 17. We will be contacting impacted customers directly, in departure date order, to discuss their options, which will include amending to a later date with an incentive or cancelling and receiving a full refund.
“We know our customers are looking forward to their holidays, so to offer continued flexibility and reassurance, we have extended our free changes policy to the end of June.
The real story behind the holiday booking surge
Holiday reservations are certainly up – but should you really book now?
6 March 2021 • 5:00am Airlines can quickly roster new flights and there will certainly be plenty of accommodation available through the summer
Credit: Getty
‘Bookings up 1,000 per cent!” screamed one overexcited press release a couple of days after the Prime Minister set out the road map to freedom. When I inquired further, the company refused to give figures or even clarify whether it meant a 1,000-fold increase (as I think most people might have thought) or a 10-fold rise (which is what a mathematician would understand).