PM confirms testing for vaccinated arrivals to be removed

The requirement for Covid-19 tests for international travellers arriving in England will be removed, according to the prime minister.

Boris Johnson updated broadcasters on the policy change.

Changes will be made so that people arriving no longer have to take tests if they have been double-vaccinated, to show that this country is open for business.

Grant Shapps is to make a statement in the House of Commons about the rule changes.

The scrapping of day two tests for travel is welcomed by aviation leaders.

The chief executives of the UK's largest airlines urged the government to end all Covid-19 related travel restrictions.

Domestic restrictions, such as Covid passports and the mandatory wearing of face masks, are being scrapped in England from Thursday.

The validity of Covid certification for travel and a plan to deal with future variant of concern were reported by industry sources close to talks with the government.

The government decided earlier this month to remove the requirement for pre-departure testing before travel to the UK, and reduce the testing requirement from a test to allow rapid flow tests if travellers are fully vaccine-free. The changes were adopted by the governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The governments of the UK and Ireland have yet to confirm whether the latest easing of restrictions for travel will be extended to their nations.

The All Party Parliamentary Group for the Future of Aviation wants the government to work with industry to implement a long-term plan which can help these vital industries begin their road to recovery.

Ensuring we have a thriving aviation and travel sector again will be vital to our national economic recovery and the government must put the sector specific support in place to allow this to begin without further delay.

Ian Bell said that the confirmation of the testing changes will give the green light to book international travel. The new rules are hoped to give the whole sector a boost.

He noted that consumers will still have to consider the specific Covid rules for their destination and called for clarity and consistency of messaging from government moving forward.

He said that this presents an opportunity for travel agents to demonstrate the value of their knowledge, but ultimately returning to England has just been made much easier.