Continued from page 88
flights to and from the UK [and] there should not be delays at airport security if you change flights in EU airports.” However, UK travellers may
be required to use separate lanes at airports and be subject to questioning at border control. They may be asked to show tickets and prove they have money for their stay in the EU. In practice, this will depend on individual member states and airports. Some countries, such as Portugal, have already promised special lanes to speed up UK arrivals. UK travellers to the EU from
next January will also be subject to several new requirements. They will need at least six months’ validity on a UK passport when they travel, and passports must be less than 10 years old. The rules exclude UK travel to Ireland. The government advises those
travelling from January 1, 2021: “Check your passport – you may need to renew your passport earlier; get travel insurance that covers healthcare; check you have the right driving documents; [and] organise pet travel.” It warns EHIC cards
“might not be valid” from January 1; “you may need extra documents” for driving and “an international driving permit (IDP) to drive”; and the existing pet passport scheme will no longer apply. Those driving their own vehicle will also need a green card from their motor insurance company and a GB sticker on the car. The government notes:
“Your consumer rights will not change from January 1.” But it advises: “Check before you leave for any delays or disruption.”
Government’s vow to level up regions ‘will take long time’
The government will struggle to meet its objective of ‘levelling up’ the UK regions with London despite promising to spend more on transport infrastructure. Both the prime minister and
chancellor signalled last week that the government intends to give a green light to the HS2 high-speed rail project, although a formal go-ahead has not yet been given.
However, Business Travel
Association (BTA) public affairs advisor Gareth Morgan suggested the time big infrastructure projects take would not help the government. He told corporate travel leaders:
“It will be a long time before we see spades in the ground.” Ben Kentish, political
correspondent of The Independent, agreed, telling the BTA: “Infrastructure is crucial, but it will not transform people’s lives.” Daily Mirror political
correspondent Nicola Bartlett noted: “Transport is much more on the agenda than in previous years.” She said: “Johnson has already
made decisions that go against his party ideologically. Theresa May would not have made the decision [to rescue] Flybe.” The government agreed in January to keep Flybe operating, although details remain under wraps.
‘Don’t expect travel to be part of EU trade deal’
Ian Taylor
Prime minister Boris Johnson “is in dreamland” if he expects to negotiate a comprehensive free-trade deal with the EU by the end of the year, corporate travel leaders were told last week. Members of the Business Travel
Association (BTA) meeting in London on Thursday were warned to expect no more than “a bare-bones deal” with the EU that would exclude services – which comprise 80% of the UK economy including travel. Britain formally departed the EU
on January 31, entering a transition period which Johnson insists he will not extend beyond December 2020. But Ben Kentish, political
correspondent of online media publisher The Independent, told the BTA winter conference: “[Trade] negotiations won’t start until March [and] the complexities when it comes to services are vast.
86 6 FEBRUARY 2020 80%
Service sector’s share of the UK economy – including travel
“Boris is in dreamland. He has
put in law that he won’t extend the [Brexit] transition period. I would expect there to be a bare-bones deal that won’t cover services.” Fellow political correspondent
Nicola Bartlett of the Daily Mirror told BTA members Johnson would try to avoid extending the transition “as long as possible”, although she noted: “He did extend the withdrawal date.” She said: “If he wants a deal, the
EU has made clear there will have to be alignment [on EU regulations]. But Boris does not want that.” Gareth Morgan, BTA public
Ben Kentish
affairs advisor and Cavendish Communications director, told the conference: “The government is going to have to decide which sectors it opens up [to the EU]. Real decisions will have to be made that will alienate some communities.” For example, Morgan said:
“Fishing is 0.12% of the economy, financial services are 6.9%.” EU leaders have suggested a
deal on fishing in UK waters will be essential to securing a trade deal.
travelweekly.co.uk
Nicola Bartlett
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