Manchester Airport Group have welcomed the designation of 50 areas around the world deemed as ‘safe’ destinations for travellers, not requiring self-isolation either on entry or return to the UK.
France, Germany, Italy and Spain have been confirmed as destinations where UK travellers can visit and return from with no quarantine restrictions on either border from 10th July.
The Government has also lifted the blanket guidance on ‘only undertaking essential foreign travel’. The new exemptions mean people arriving from selected countries will be able to enter England without needing to self-isolate, unless they have been in or travelled through non-exempt countries in the preceding 14 days. Travellers to or from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland may still be required to quarantine, depending on guidance from the devolved administrations and public health bodies.
Manchester Airport Group CEO, Charlie Cornish (pictured), said of the announcement:
These travel corridors will open up the chance for people to enjoy a well-earned break abroad and directly benefit the hundreds of thousands of people whose jobs depend on air travel for their livelihoods – whether they work in aviation or for the UK’s tourism and hospitality businesses, which can now welcome the first overseas visitors we will have seen for months.
“We have made our airports safe for our passengers and staff, and our airports have already started limited operations to many of these countries. With the quarantine requirement now removed, we look forward to safely welcoming back many more passengers in the coming weeks.
“The Government should continue to take a risk-based approach to quarantine arrangements and, where possible, build more air bridges to key tourism and business destinations with low infection rates. Each one will help protect jobs and preserve billions of pounds worth of economic activity in the UK.”
The full list of 50 countries with travel corridors in place is available from the Government website.