Shapps fails to allay queue fears Ian Taylor


Transport secretary Grant Shapps acknowledged border checks were causing unprecedented queues at Heathrow last week, but did little to assuage fears that travel’s restart could be compromised by delays due to manual checks on passenger credentials. Shapps told MPs: “We’re working


with Border Force on e-gates but it’s not straightforward.” Work is under way to digitise


passenger locator forms (PLFs) to be read by e-gates at major airports by July. Digital Covid-status certificates could take longer, although the government aims to provide certificates for use in destinations by the summer.


An industry source described


work on PLFs as “progressing”, but said: “They need to get a move on. There should be reasonable functionality across Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted by the end of June. But there isn’t time for any hiccups. We’re hoping the form and some e-gates will be functional from May 17. But the introduction will be phased. “I don’t see certificates for


outbound travel being ready from May 17.” The source also warned: “People


will assume if they can use a certificate outbound, they can use it inbound, but that won’t be the case, initially. “Where destinations offer to


accept fully-vaccinated visitors, they


Hopes grow for wider EU and US travel by June


Ian Taylor


There are growing hopes of a reopening of travel across Europe and to the US by the end of next month following a muted restart this month. The European Commission


recommended easing restrictions on travel for fully-vaccinated overseas visitors, including from the US, last week and EU leaders were discussing the plans on Tuesday as Travel Weekly went to press. A leading industry source


described the EU move as “useful”, 4 6 MAY 2021


saying: “It adds to the pressure on the UK government. The UK should be ahead of the EU given the vaccination programme.” The source added: “We’re seeing


increasing alignment globally for June.” Industry leaders wrote to US


president Joe Biden and Boris Johnson urging they use a meeting ahead of the G7 Summit in early June as “an ideal opportunity for a joint announcement of the reopening of US-UK air travel”. The source noted a US reopening “is in US hands. We don’t have the


US on the red list. It’s up to the Biden administration.” The US would need to repeal Section 212F of the US Immigration and Nationality Act invoked by former president Donald Trump to suspend entry from the UK, Ireland and Schengen Area. A key issue remains how the


government will handle transit passengers, which could affect arrivals from the US, the Gulf and major hub airports across Europe. The source noted: “A lot of traffic


to the UK will transit through hub airports. [But] there is nothing in the Global Travel Taskforce report on


We’re working with


UK Border Force on e-gates but it’s not straightforward


will require an app or a print-out that can be machine-read. Trials are happening, but the technology has to be tested. It needs to be robust so it doesn’t put people off travelling.” Media reports suggested arrivals


to the UK from green-list countries could be fast-tracked through airports. But the source said: “We don’t expect policy to dictate that. It will be for airports and Border Force to do that.” Officials in Greece suggested they


would accept NHS vaccination cards as proof of vaccination, but this was dismissed by other EU states. EU plans for digital certificates


moved forward when MEPs agreed an ‘EU Covid-19 Certificate’ “should be in place for 12 months”. Until the certificate is launched, the


EC said member states “should accept certificates based on national law”. However, EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders warned: “We risk a multitude of possibly incompatible national solutions.” An EU official said “those


vaccinated in the UK will be eligible to travel [to Europe]”, but noted “reciprocity is important” – meaning EU citizens will need similar access to the UK.


Flights to the US depend on President Biden reopening the country’s borders


transit passengers. The framework does not make allowance for transit passengers. It’s the single biggest area of uncertainty.” Dale Keller, chief executive of the


UK Board of Airline Representatives, said: “We’ve asked for urgent clarification of transit passenger policy, including from red countries. The government allows transit through the UK but not through other hubs. That urgently needs reviewing.” The EC proposes to accept


visitors fully vaccinated with an EU-approved vaccine administered at least two weeks before travel.


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Shutterstock/aapsky


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