UK airlines respond to PM statement on resumption of international travel – “does not provide the clarity we were seeking on the roadmap back towards normality”

April 5th, 2021

Commenting on the latest announcement from the Prime Minister on the resumption of international travel, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“Whilst we support the establishment of a framework for restarting international travel and welcome the removal of self-isolation for arrivals from green countries, today’s announcement does not provide the clarity we were seeking on the roadmap back towards normality. We await further details but the measures indicated, including the potential for multiple tests for travellers even from ‘green countries’, will prevent meaningful travel even to low-risk destinations.

“Of critical importance will be moving countries – transparently – through the tiers into ‘green’, reviewing measures urgently in light of the latest and best available evidence so that they are effective but also proportionate to the risk, and crucially embracing cost-effective rapid testing thus ensuring the alignment of international travel with the domestic economy, which will be so important for the UK’s economic recovery.”