The government has announced further changes to the UK’s red list today, with the seven-strong list of countries reduced to zero.
Grant Shapps tweeted: “All seven remaining countries on the red list will be REMOVED from Mon 1 November at 4am.”
However he added that the UK will “keep the red list category in place as a precautionary measure to protect public health” and said the government is “prepared to add countries and territories back if needed, as the UK’s first line of defence.”
The seven countries that were formerly graded red - Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela - have all been added to the Rest of World list, meaning travellers fully vaccinated in a country whose vaccines are recognised by the Department for Transport need not quarantine on arrival here.
More nations’ vaccine certification will also be recognised in the UK from Monday, with 35 additions, including Peru and Uganda.
The Welsh Government has confirmed it will follow the changes made in England to the travel red list.
In a statement, Eluned Morgan, health and social services minister, said: “These changes are not without risk - the UK’s Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) has advised the evolution of a vaccine escape variant is ‘almost certain’, and the risk of increased clinical severity is a ‘realistic possibility’.
“We are also concerned about the UK Government’s many decisions to change the border health measures, which are important protections to prevent the risk of new cases - and new variants of coronavirus - from entering the UK.
“However, it is difficult for Wales to adopt different arrangements to those required by the UK Government, as the majority of Welsh travellers enter the UK through ports and airports in England.
“Having different requirements would cause significant practical problems, confusion among the travelling public, logistical issues, enforcement at our borders and disadvantages for Welsh businesses.
“The pandemic is not over. It is for this reason that our advice continues to be to encourage people to only travel overseas for essential reasons.”
Which countries’ vaccines are recognised in the UK?
In mid-September, the UK government announced major changes to the country’s international travel and health rules - including its plans to formally recognise a number of vaccines from overseas countries.
Prior to late July, only UK-administered vaccines were officially recognised.
In the latest travel announcement on 28 October, the government revealed that 35 more countries’ vaccinations would be accepted by England and Scotland from 1 November.
So which countries’ vaccine certificates are now recognised?
Jubilation from travel industry as restrictions ease
The travel industry has welcomed the abolition of hotel quarantine from next month – but is questioning why the “red list” was allowed to drag on for so long.
Panama’s Minister of Tourism, Ivan Eskildsen, said: “We are delighted that the UK has recognised the progress we have made in tackling Covid and we can’t wait to welcome UK visitors to Panama.
“Our doors are wide open.”
Danny Callaghan, chief executive of the Latin American Travel Association, said: “Latin American countries have excellent vaccination programmes and recognition of this is long overdue.”
The UK government will recognise vaccination certification from more than 30 extra countries from 4am on 1 November.
“Eligible travellers from over 30 new countries and territories including Peru and Uganda will be added to our inbound vax policy, bringing the total number of countries on this list to over 135,” tweeted Grant Shapps, the transport secretary.
Travellers from these destinations will no longer have to quarantine on arrival to the UK, but must simply take a rapid antigen test within two days of entering the country.
In the latest travel update from the UK government, the transport secretary is expected to announce that more countries’ vaccine certifications will be recognised.
Grant Shapps could approve at least 12 more nations’ vaccines, reports the Guardian, meaning travellers from there will no longer have to quarantine upon arrival to the UK (provided they haven’t come from a red list country).
Emirates returns “SuperJumbo” to Gatwick route in time for Christmas
London Gatwick, which was previously the world’s busiest single-runway airport, has at last received a crumb of comfort: Emirates is planning to bring the Airbus A380 back in time for Christmas.
The Sussex airport has lagged behind other Emirates gateways in getting a link to Dubai restored. London Heathrow and Manchester already have multiple Airbus A380 services, while Birmingham, Glasgow and Newcastle are also back on the Emirates network.
The Dubai-based airline had already announced a return to Gatwick, but with a smaller Boeing 777 aircraft. The daily link will now be served by the double-deck A380, with almost 50 per cent more seats.
Richard Jewsbury, divisional vice-president UK for Emirates, said: “Upgrading the Gatwick route to our incredible A380 will help us meet ever growing demand for international travel from the British public.
“London Gatwick airport has long been a valued partner for Emirates and we look forward to welcoming passengers back onboard Emirates’ flagship aircraft soon.”
At present Gatwick is operating with only its smaller North Terminal, with the South Terminal mothballed.
United Airlines restoring flights from London Heathrow to the US
One of the world’s biggest airlines is to restore some of the links between London Heathrow and the US that were cut during the coronavirus pandemic.
The carrier will offer seven daily flights to and from its hub at Newark, New York. United claims the highest frequency of any US airline from Heathrow to New York, but British Airways flies more often – serving both Newark and JFK.
The United schedule from Newark to Heathrow offers overnight flights on the hour, every hour, from 6pm to 11pm, as well as a daytime service at 8.30am.
From Heathrow, departures are also on the hour at 8, 9 and 10am; 12 noon; and 1, 4 and 6pm.
United will also add a link from Heathrow to Boston, which it did not previously serve, and boost service to Denver and San Francisco.
‘No plans’ to remove hotel quarantine, says government spokesperson
England has no plans to abolish its “red list” of high-risk countries for Covid, which requires travellers to quarantine in hotels on arrival, Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson has said.
He dismissed reports that the seven - Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela - will all be declared safe as “speculation”, insisting that final meetings to decide any changes were still to take place.
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