Travel News August 2020


Northern Ireland Relaxes Travel Quarantine Rules AND Publishes List of Quarantine-Free Travel Countires T


HE NI Executive announced that it will relax quarantine rules for more than 50 countries, including France, Germany and Italy saying the there will be “no self-isolation requirement for those travelling to Northern Ireland from low to medium risk countries”. The Executive agreed the changes after a review of the travel regulations. The current regulations state that anyone


entering Northern Ireland


from outside the Common Travel Area must isolate for 14 days, but the new announcement brings Northern Ireland into line with England and Scotland, who have both already announced travel corridors.


Peter McMinn, Travel Solutions said: “This decision by the NI Executive will be widely welcomed, not only by our travel agency partners, but by the vast amount of passengers looking to grab a holiday this summer. Not only does it give the local travel industry an income for the first time in four months; but may also help secure hundreds of jobs in retail stores, tour operators and those employed at


airports. This gives the industry a chance.” Sandra Corkin from Oasis Travel said:


It is really great news for the industry and hopefully we can look forward to some summer 2020 bookings.” Arrivals are exempt from quarantine if they arrive in from:


Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius


Aircoach Resumes Services to Dublin Airport


AIRCOACH has resumed the Cork and Belfast services to Dublin. The service was suspended in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.


Coaches will resume operation with social distancing measures in place on board and booking is essential. All passengers are required to wear a face mask.


and Saba, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand,


Norway,


Poland, Réunion, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, South Korea, St Barthélemy, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Pierre and Miquelon, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Vatican City, Vietnam.


The 14 British Overseas Territories are also exempt.


Spain was initially on the exemption list, but it’s quarantine-free status was revoked after a sudden spike in cases - over 900 in two days.


City Of Derry Airport Hails Executive’s Air Bridge Decision as “Welcome Relief”


THE NI Executive has today (July 9) announced that it will be easing quarantine rules for more than 50 countries, including France, Spain, Germany and Italy saying the there will be “no self-isolation requirement for those travelling to Northern Ireland from low to medium risk countries”. Steve Frazer, Managing Director at City of Derry Airport, said: “Today’s decision from the NIE is welcome relief for our Travel and Tourism industry allowing us to retain jobs in our sector and begin our economic recovery.” Mr. Frazer also added that “we


would encourage a frequent review of the quarantine exemption list to ensure qualifying countries can be added and also to ensure the exempt nations remain within our required standards or face immediate removal.”


UPDATES 3


Finnair Resumes Dublin Services from August 2


FINNAIR customers can enjoy savings of up to 50% as flights from Dublin take off in August. From August 2, Finnair will resume services with


five flights a week from Dublin to Helsinki, connecting Ireland to the Finnair network.


As the airline recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, it has scheduled 25% of flights to operate this summer, rising to a planned 70% for the winter season, with a mix of services to short and long-haul destinations, including those across the Far East and Asia.


Special Finnair fares from the airline include savings of 50%, with Business Class fares starting from €369 and Economy Class fares from €184 on return flights from Dublin to Helsinki, including all taxes and charges. Finnair flights can be booked through local travel agents as well as via finnair.com.


Andrew Fish, Finnair General Manager UK,


Ireland & Benelux, said: “Our five-times-a-week service from Dublin will reconnect Ireland with Helsinki and provide great onward connections to key Asian destinations, such as Bangkok, Hong Kong and Seoul. “We are really looking forward to welcoming our Irish customers back on board from 2 August. While customers may notice changes to our onboard service as we adapt to the ‘new normal’, our famous Nordic hospitality is guaranteed to stay the same.” The relaunch of services from Dublin is part of a


gradual approach to re-introducing passenger flights in line with customer demand which will see the airline operate up to 25% of its schedule in August.


Over 50,000 Sign Petition Calling for Quarantine-Free Travel to Spain to be Re-Instated


Italy is one of the countries on the so called ‘air bridge’ list


NI Tourism Alliance Praises “Positive” News on NI ‘Air Bridge’ List


THE Northern Ireland Tourism


Alliance has heaped praise the news that Northern Ireland has agreed travel corridors with 50 countries including France, Spain, Germany and Italy. Responding to the NI Executive’s announcement on travel regulations, Joanne Stuart, CEO NI Tourism Alliance commented: “Today’s confirmation from the NI Executive that travellers from low & medium risk countries do not need to self-isolate when travelling to Northern Ireland is very positive news for the tourism industry, as well as the wider economy and is a huge relief to tourism businesses who are just reopening their doors after being hit first


and hardest by the economic impact of Covid-19.


“Our industry, with government guidance, has invested heavily to ensure that Northern Ireland is a safe and welcoming destination.


“This move, especially maintaining travel across the Common Travel Area, will help rebuild NI as a destination for national and international travellers whilst saving jobs by giving tourism businesses the best chance of maximising the rest of the 2020 season. “Our message is come to Northern


Ireland, we offer great value for money, a safe environment and an authentic experience.”


Jet2holidays Suspends Flights to Mainland Spain and Islands Until Mid-August and Calls For Clarity from Government


FOLLOWING the latest government advice regarding Mainland Spain and the Islands, Jet2holidays has taken the decision to suspend all flights and holidays to the region until mid-august while also calling for “clarity and consistency” from the government amid this “fast- moving situation”.


Flights and holidays to Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza have been suspended up to and including August 9. Flights and holidays to destinations in Mainland Spain (Costa de Almeria, Alicante, Malaga and Murcia) have been suspended up to and including August 16. The airline and holiday operator confirmed that


flights and holiday packages to Spain and Portugal from the UK will resume from August 17, while flights and holidays to the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands will resume on August 10. There has been no changes to holidays and flights to Madeira.


Jet2holidays took the decision to suspends all flights and package holidays to Mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands after the UK government abruptly announced that it was reinforcing quarantine measures for anyone entering the UK from these destinations.


A statement from the airline and holiday operator reads: “Following the latest government advice regarding travel to the Balearic and Canary Islands from the UK, we have taken the decision to suspend flights and holidays to Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza up to and including 9th August. We have already suspended flights and holidays to our destinations in Mainland Spain (Costa de Almeria, Alicante, Malaga and Murcia) up to and including 16th August. “Where customers are affected by any programme changes, we have been repeatedly recognised by independent travel agents for how we have handled


Advantage Travel Calls Re-Introduction of Quarantine Measures for Spain “Devastating”


ADVANTAGE Travel have spoken out following the recent updated travel advice that travellers returning to the UK from Spain will have to self-isolate for 14-days, calling the move “devastating”. Kelly Cookes, Leisure Director at Advantage Travel Partnership:


“This is devastating news for the travel industry and our travel agent members. Spain had been dominating in terms of bookings and just as there was a glimmer of hope to try and recover some of the summer season, the change in Government advice will have huge ramifications on consumer confidence when it comes to booking travel elsewhere. “The health and safety of travellers is paramount, however this will put many travel agents back at square one in terms of the refund process and I’m sure will impact revenue for travel businesses who were starting to get back on their feet.”


this, and we will be automatically cancelling affected trade bookings with a full refund.


“We will also be providing information for customers


who are currently in these destinations to advise them of their options regarding flying back to the UK, so we urge customers not to contact us. For customers who are due to travel to these destinations after the dates given above, we will provide an additional update once we receive more information from the government. “What we are calling for now is clarity and consistency from the government. We understand that this is a fast-moving situation, however the information we are currently receiving is contradictory and comes with little or no notice. We want to provide customers, who work hard and save hard for their well-deserved holidays, with timely information and we need this from the government. We would like to sincerely thank our customers and independent travel agency partners for their understanding and patience.”


WTTC Calls Spanish Quarantine U-Turn “Hugely Disappointing”


THE World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has described the move by the UK government to remove Spain from the green list of quarantine free countries a “bitter blow for those holidaymakers already in Spain”. Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO


said: “Requiring UK travellers returning from Spain to once again quarantine for 14 days will be hugely disappointing for thousands of UK holidaymakers – and is disastrous for the hard- pressed Travel & Tourism industry, both in Spain and the UK.


“While the health and safety of travellers – as


well as those who work within the Travel & Tourism industry – is paramount, this move will be a bitter blow for those holidaymakers already


in Spain who will now be forced into isolation when they return home.


“WTTC believes quarantines do nothing


to help restore consumer confidence at a time when we need to encourage people to return to travelling, in line with our Safe Travels protocols.


“We urge governments to consider local lockdowns instead of closing entire country’s borders. Painting an entire country with the same brush does not benefit anyone. While we understand the concern about destinations like Spain with new COVID-19 cases, the majority of the country and its islands, which are incredibly popular holiday destinations, have less cases than the UK.”


OVER 50,000 people have signed a petition urging the UK government to re-instate quarantine-free travel to Spain – in less than 36 hours.


The petition was set up late on Saturday night after the UK government announced its was removing the Spanish islands from its air bridge list – meaning holidaymakers must now quarantine for 14 days upon return to the UK.


Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab defended the government’s u-turn saying advice on destinations could change at any time, however Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds instead said the government should test, trace and isolate at borders, instead of issuing blanket bans.


TUI UK Managing Director Andrew Flintham


told Radio 4’s Today show: “We have called for a regional policy so that, if there are very distanced areas where infection rates are lower and therefore safe travel can go ahead, which clearly travel advice says it can, we would look for a consistent approach. That’s the way forward. We are asking for a risk-based approach.”


Ryanair Reported €185m Loss and Expresses Fear of ‘Second Wave’


BUDGET carrier Ryanair has expressed fears over a second wave of the devastating Covid-19 virus further damaging the struggling travel industry. The carrier’s fears come as it reports a first quarter 2020 loss of €185m, down from €243m last year. The global pandemic and subsequent travel restrictions meant that 99% of the airline’s aircraft were grounded from April to June 2020.


A statement from the airline said: “It is impossible to predict how long the Covid-19 pandemic will persist, and a second wave of Covid-19 cases across Europe in late autumn (when the annual flu season commences) is our biggest fear right now.


“Hopefully EU governments, by implementing


effective track and tracing systems, and EU citizens by complying with recommended face masks, rigorous hand hygiene and other measures, will avoid the need for further lockdowns or restrictions on intra-EU flights.


“It is vital that European economies begin the


process of recovery this summer to minimise the damage arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and this recovery can only be led by intra-EU air travel which is the engine of EU growth and economic activity. “However, the Ryanair Group will emerge from the Covid-19 crisis with a much lower cost base, which will be essential to fund lower fares as the Group competes against unlawfully state aided flag carriers.”


Portugal Still Left Off Quarantine- Free List


FROM Tuesday 28 July 2020, Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia and St Vincent & the Grenadines have been added to the quarantine-free travel list, but Portugal still remains in the red-zone.


Portugal’s Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva tweeted that the UK’s decision is ‘neither substantiated nor backed by the facts’.


Spain was removed from the list suddenly over concerns that it’s Covid-19 infection rate was rising.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28