‘Difficult year for travel’ warns PM, but exemptions for double-jabbed not ruled out

21 June 2021, 13:57 | Updated: 21 June 2021, 22:19

PM issues warning on ‘difficult year for travel’

By Daisy Stephens

Boris Johnson has played down suggestions that restrictions on foreign travel could be lifted as more people received the coronavirus vaccine.

There has been speculation the requirement for people arriving in England from countries on the amber list to quarantine at home for 10 days could be lifted in the coming weeks.

But speaking during a visit to a laboratory in Hertfordshire, Mr Johnson said: "I want to stress that this is going to be - whatever happens - a difficult year for travel.

"There will be hassle, there will be delays, I am afraid, because the priority has got to be to keep the country safe and stop the virus coming back in."

Entire country should leave lockdown at same time

This comes just one day after Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said ministers have not ruled out relaxing pandemic restrictions, such as on foreign travel and self-isolation, for those who have received both coronavirus vaccines.

He told the Andrew Marr Show the data on double vaccinations is "still developing" but added: "It looks great, it looks really encouraging, we're trying to be as flexible as we can."

The prime minister says he is "looking at" the possibility of an exemption from quarantine for people who have had both jabs.

Read more: Boris Johnson: July 19 a 'terminus point' for England's lockdown restrictions

Read more: Covid jab bookings in England top one million in two days

Analysis of NHS Test and Trace figures by The Times found that fewer than one in 200 travellers who entered the UK from amber tier countries between May 20 and June 9 tested positive for coronavirus.

People returning from a green list country are not required to enter quarantine, but there are no major viable tourist destinations in that tier following the removal of Portugal, which led to accusations that decisions are being based on political rather than public health motives.

The amber list includes most popular summer hotspots such as Spain, Italy and Greece.

Ryanair and Manchester Airports Group - which owns Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports - are preparing legal action calling for more transparency over how Whitehall decides which countries are on the green, amber and red lists.

Caller on social care: 'This can't be allowed to carry on James!'

The first "checkpoint" review since the traffic light system was introduced is due to take place on June 28.

But Paul Charles, chief executive at travel consultancy The PC Agency, said he does not anticipate any major changes.

"I think caution is going to continue from the Government,” he said.

"I think there may well be very few changes. You may see maybe somewhere like Turkey move from red to amber, you may see a couple of greens added.

"But they've got to re-instil confidence in people about the traffic light system. The system is shot to pieces at the moment, because of the way that they treated Portugal two weeks ago.

"They've either got to reinvigorate the traffic light system, or they've got to outline how they're going to enable fully jabbed citizens to travel with more freedom and not have to quarantine when they return from an amber country."

He added: "I'm not sure they're going to open things up very much at all until August."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

More than 2 million drivers are set to hit the road on Good Friday.

Easter Carmageddon: Over two million drivers to hit the road on Good Friday after Storm Nelson travel chaos

Michael Gove has slammed the water firm as a 'disgrace'.

Thames Water bosses branded a ‘disgrace’ as Michael Gove tells firm ‘not to punish consumers’ for its failings

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

A council has had to apologise following the incident.

Fury as parents offered version of school class photo without complex needs pupils

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus plunges from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

Exclusive
Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says