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into that and will engage to see what accreditation means for international travel.” He confirmed: “We’d like


a scheme that is as digital as possible, but there will be people who don’t have a smartphone or a battery might run out, so we need a paper scheme as well. Long term, we want an international standard. We don’t want a patchwork of different rules.” Courts argued the UK would


be “international leaders” on certification “because we sit on the International Civil Aviation Organisation [ICAO] panel”. Heathrow Airport chief


solutions officer Chris Garton agreed: “The UK government is in a great position to take a lead.” He warned: “It is difficult


if these requirements differ for every country. We’ve got to standardise it over time.” Garton said: “We’re pushing


strongly for passengers to submit certification to airlines before travel, even if it’s paper.” When it was pointed out


existing vaccination certificates are paper and checked by the border staff of countries which require them, Garton said: “That is correct. But at the scale we’re talking about a paper- based system will just not work.” Iata UK & Ireland country


manager Simon McNamara said: “We need to facilitate something, if not by May 17 then by June 28. For now it will be paper, but we need to move rapidly to digital.” He added: “Iata has


developed a tool, Travel Pass, which can display test results and vaccination certificates. [But] we need governments to issue certificates.”


Minister: Wait to see traffic light list before booking


Aviation minister Robert Courts warned prospective holidaymakers “risk disappointment” if they don’t wait to see how destinations are categorised under the new traffic light system. Appearing before the Transport Select Committee of MPs, Courts


acknowledged the Global Travel Taskforce report noted: “People are free to book holidays abroad in the summer.” But he said: “I would advise people to wait to see which country falls in which category.” The government has pledged to


identify the categories countries fall into “in early May”. Courts advised: “People should


ensure their booking is something they are able to rebook or get their money back, and that they are able to work if required to self-isolate.” He said: “People should look


at the situation at the time, at the terms of their holiday.” Asked why the government


could not give more clarity, Courts told MPs: “We’re seeking to give people as much certainty as possible at the same time as protecting public health.” Courts warned: “We’ll keep


which country falls in which category under constant review. Things change rapidly. We’ve seen that with variants of concern. We have to protect public health. The public will expect that and we’ll do that.”


Courts defends taskforce report as ‘balancing act’


Ian Taylor


The government has rejected claims that it aims to restrict foreign travel this summer by retaining the risk of quarantine and insisting on costly PCR Covid tests for travel to low-risk countries. MPs challenged aviation and


maritime minister Robert Courts repeatedly over the limitations of the Global Travel Taskforce report when he appeared before the Transport Select Committee last week. Courts responded by suggesting


the requirements could be relaxed following an initial restart as he told MPs repeatedly: “The point of reopening is not the end state.” He said: “We are trying to protect


public health and also trying to unlock foreign travel. I want to see people on planes and ships again, but it must happen in a way that is robust and sustainable. So we have this balancing act.” Asked if it was the intention to


limit the number of people travelling, 38 22 APRIL 2021


Robert Courts


Courts said: “No, I don’t accept that. I accept this is a cautious plan. It’s intended to enable people to travel but not a need to go backwards.” The minister defended the lack


of detail in the report, including the failure to indicate which countries may be on the green list


under the new traffic light system. He insisted: “There are a number


of things we’re still working on and will be providing detail on.” Courts argued: “There is a


tension between giving certainty and being accurate. We said there will be no travel before May 17. We need to make decisions on the data that exists at the time. In early May, we’ll be able to give more details. We would like to give as much notice as we can commensurate with the data at the time. The alternative is we have to change [the detail]. “We will provide detail of which


country is in which category. I accept there are people who want to know now, but we can’t at this point.” He said the categorisation of


countries would be reviewed “around the beginning of May”. Courts declined to say how


much travel there might be through the summer, but he suggested the requirements could change following ‘checkpoints’ planned by June 28, July 31 and October 1 “when we will be reviewing policy”.


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