Checks abroad to limit UK queues Ian Taylor


Industry sources have downplayed concerns about lengthy queues at UK borders as passenger numbers ramp up from Monday. They warn bottlenecks are more


likely at overseas airports when UK holidaymakers return home as carriers will be required to check proof of vaccination and pre- departure test results. Announcing the removal


of quarantine restrictions for fully-vaccinated travellers to amber destinations from Monday, transport secretary Grant Shapps warned of “longer waiting times” saying: “People should expect it will be


different at the borders. Additional checks are likely to cause delays.” The Times newspaper reported


passengers “could be forced to sit on runways to prevent lengthy queues” and quoted an official of the ICU union which represents Border Force staff saying: “We’re not set up to cope. We’ll easily see three to four-hour queues.” However, a leading aviation


source told Travel Weekly: “UK nationals with NHS vaccination certificates can use the e-gates. It’s not the breaking point it was. It’s much more robust now.” A second source confirmed: “The


majority of e-gates at major UK ports will be upgraded by the end of July. So long as the Passenger Locator


Scotland follows England in change to amber rules


Ian Taylor


The Scottish government’s decision to follow England by removing quarantine restrictions for fully-vaccinated travellers returning from amber destinations from July 19 was widely welcomed by the trade. First minister Nicola Sturgeon


also removed the requirement for a second PCR test. But the Scottish government continues to advise against non-essential travel. That did not prevent Barrhead


Travel president Jacqueline Dobson welcoming the announcement,


4 15 JULY 2021


saying: “We’re really pleased to hear Scotland will move in tandem with England. It’s particularly encouraging to see this in time for the last few weeks of the school holidays.” Scottish Passenger Agents’


Association president Joanne Dooey also hailed it as “undoubtedly good news” and Airlines UK chief executive Tim Alderslade said: “This is a positive step. However, it must be accompanied by further progress on the green list, opening up more countries to quarantine-free travel.” Abta also welcomed the


announcement but called on Sturgeon to “urgently review the


The checks will be


forced upstream [to destination airports]. At the UK border they won’t need to check


Form (PLF) works it should be OK. It will be a problem if they introduce manual checks.” The next step will be for the PLF


to capture vaccination information, “but it’s not there yet” said the source. Whether this will be captured by upload or entering the data isn’t clear. The industry is pressing the Home Office and Border Force to


follow the example of Spain “which has a PLF that verifies a vaccination certificate”. In the meantime, carriers will


be required to check vaccination certificates before passengers board UK-bound flights or face a fine. An airline source said: “The


checks will be forced upstream [to destination airports]. At the UK border they won’t have to bother checking.” A second source pointed out: “Some passengers are critical of the lack of checks on UK arrival, but we’re trying to avoid duplicate checks. The check before you depart is ‘the check’. Queues [in the UK] will be driven by the increase in volume not by processing.”


First minister Nicola Sturgeon


ongoing advice against non-essential international travel”, warning: “While this advice remains, confidence to travel from Scotland will remain low.” Dobson insisted: “It’s vital the


UK continues to adopt a four-nations approach. We hope future decisions are not as fragmented as over this last year.” The Welsh government had


still to confirm its policy on fully-vaccinated travellers as Travel Weekly went to press with an announcement expected on Wednesday. The Northern Ireland executive confirmed last week that it would follow Westminster’s lead


by removing amber list quarantine requirements for those fully vaccinated from July 26. An industry source said: “It has


been difficult with the devolved administrations. They need to wake up. The public don’t understand [the fragmentation] and neither does the industry.” Sturgeon announced the change


saying: “From July 19, self-isolation will no longer be required for arrivals from amber list destinations. But we continue to advise against non-essential travel at this time.” She promised a further review of restrictions by August 9.


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Shutterstock/Terry Murden


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