Hopes intensify for May 17 restart Ian Taylor
The government boosted hopes of a substantive travel restart from May 17 by announcing Portugal’s removal from the ‘red list’ and confirming the Global Travel Taskforce report will be published on April 12. Transport secretary Grant
Shapps told MPs he would “make the report public the same day” it goes to the prime minister, giving the industry extended notice of the recommendations. However, coordination among
the devolved administrations is no nearer. Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that international travel “may well not be possible” from May
17 and pre-departure and post-arrival testing may remain “for some time”. Sturgeon said she would discuss
with the aviation sector how and when “travel to some international destinations may be possible”. First minister of Wales Mark
Drakeford went further, declaring the prospect of international travel from mid-May “fills me with horror”, and an unnamed “senior government official” told The Sunday Times: “The EU vaccine chaos could hit summer holidays. Even if we’ve all been vaccinated, it will be difficult to go elsewhere.” An industry source dismissed the
report, insisting: “It’s too early to tell. A week is a long time in this crisis. We need to hold our nerve.” However, a second source said:
CAA holds talks with government to extend RCNs
Ian Taylor
The CAA is in talks with the government to extend the deadline for issuing refund credit notes (RCNs) beyond March 31 in tandem with extending the expiry date for new RCNs beyond September 30. CAA group director of consumers
and markets Paul Smith confirmed the regulator’s intention, saying: “Everybody is aware of the need to provide clarity to industry about what happens after the end of March.” Speaking at the Travel Weekly
Future of Travel Spring Forum, Smith 4 18 MARCH 2021
said: “The government has indicated international travel will not start before at least May 17, so there is at least a month and a half [beyond March 31]. We’re having discussions with government.” He noted: “At the moment, the
government letter covering RCNs in the Atol sense runs to the end of September. We’re conscious the two dates need to work together. We don’t want to end up in a situation where we concertina the need to use the RCNs into a very short period.” Smith said: “We’re keen to get a joined-up solution rather than
They wouldn’t
present a report that’s not signed off. The PM will say ‘That’s what we’re doing’
“It is really uncertain. Health experts are most worried about the ‘variants of concern’. The UK government strategy is to keep quite high barriers and the vaccination approach [in the EU] is hampering our ability to reassure the government.” On Scotland, the source said:
“There have been differences through- out. We hope there will be alignment, but we just need to manage it.” The source confirmed there
should be five weeks to implement the taskforce recommendations, saying: “They wouldn’t present a report that is not signed off. “The PM will say on April 12,
‘That is what we’re doing’.” In a separate boost, Turkey
confirmed on Monday it would be open to UK holidaymakers without vaccination certificates, with Jet2 and Jet2holidays reporting bookings to Turkey doubled in the subsequent 24 hours. Portugal, including Madeira and
the Azores, was due to be removed from the ‘red list’ of countries – requiring hotel quarantine for returning travellers – from 4am on Friday, along with Mauritius. However, Qatar, Ethiopia, Somalia and Oman were due to be added.
Farina Azam
Caption John de Vial
Paul Smith
just pushing forward the date for [issuing] RCNs, bringing it ever closer to the point at which the government guarantee letter expires.” Abta confirmed it is also
considering extending the deadlines. Director of membership and financial services John de Vial said: “We’re looking as well to align dates. We’re conscious a decision is needed in the next couple of weeks.” De Vial said: “Travel organisers
typically are dealing with cancellations well in advance, before they collect balance payments. So a lot of April-May departure issues can
be dealt with before the end of March. “But I agree in relation to
September. It’s not helpful to have a cliff-edge position where people have to be rebooked or refunded before the end of the summer. The ability to manage that administratively and financially is going to be affected by
the sort of summer we have.” i Full report, back page
Watch the Future of Travel discussion on regulation at:
go.travel weekly.co.uk/SpringForum1
travelweekly.co.uk
FUTURE SPRING FORUM
In partnership with
Ian Taylor
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