Entry restrictions lifted *

Last Monday BTN’s ran its shortest ever story "PASSENGER LOCATOR FORMS No news.  The purgatory continues”.

Within hours the Department for Transport (DfT) was announcing the lifting of travel restrictions from Friday (18 March).

Clearly those at the DfT (and indeed the Minister) read BTN.

The Government said the change had been deliberately timed before the Easter holidays, but added that contingency plans had been drawn up to respond to any future Covid variants.  The industry as a whole breathed a sigh of relief with record bookings announced.

All remaining Covid travel restrictions have now been lifted for passengers entering the UK.

Unvaccinated arrivals no longer have to take tests – the rule had already been lifted for the vaccinated – and, as noted, passenger locator forms have been scrapped.

It comes almost exactly two years after the first Covid lockdown measures were imposed in the UK.

Aviation Minister Robert Courts said: "Everything we have worked for – every jab, every test, and the sacrifices made by the whole country means that finally, nearly two years on, we can all travel without bureaucratic restrictions".

However, UK travellers are still advised to check the rules for the countries they are visiting – as many still have restrictions and testing requirements in place.

www.gov.uk/coronavirus

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

colin smith, UK

Also a pity that Joe Biden insists on us having to do tests, fill out forms before we travel and wear masks on board etc. A bit ironic given how the Americans really ignore masks etc.

John James, Coventry

The best news in the last two years. It’s a pity that Adolph Putin has spoilt it.