Portugal, including the islands of Madeira and the Azores, is to be removed from the ‘red list’ of countries from where visitors are subject to hotel quarantine restrictions from Friday. Indian ocean nation Mauritius is also to be moved as of 4am on March 19 in rules that apply only to England. While arrivals from these countries no longer have …

Saga Cruises has announced that it is pushing back its restart date from early May to 27 June. In addition, the debut of the line’s newest ship has been delayed again until late July. Saga holiday operations will resume in mid-May. “The health and safety of our guests and crew has been our number one priority and throughout the pandemic we …

Travel and tourism firm TUI has announced it is cancelling all holidays from the UK until mid-May amid ongoing coronavirus restriction across the country. The news comes as leaders of the devolved nations begin plans to lead the UK out of lockdown. Under current plans, 17 May is being targeted as the earliest possible date for foreign travel to resume, subject to a …

Most Brits (61%) are in favour of flights which only accept passengers who have been vaccinated, according to a new survey. The poll also found 74% of respondents felt it would be reasonable to be expected to wear a facemask on a plane, even after having had the vaccine. And 79% also say they are happy for their vaccine details …

TUI is ‘preparing intensively’ for holidays to resume, with the European giant in talks with the key destinations of Greece, Spain and Cyprus. Chief Executive Fritz Joussen predicted customers will be able to travel this summer, and declared there was ‘no doubt’ a vaccination passport would ‘restore freedom to travel’. “Travelling in Europe will be possible in summer 2021 – …

Airlines and travel firms are experiencing a surge in demand following Boris Johnson’s road map for how coronavirus restrictions will be eased. The Prime Minister said on Monday that a Government taskforce will produce a report by April 12 recommending how international trips can resume for people in England. Foreign holidays could be permitted from May 17. In the hours …

Consumer watchdog Which? has warned travellers not to book flights until clarity emerges over international travel after revealing more than two million passengers lost money during Covid. The warning came amid research which found people were left out of pocket after missing flights that continued to operate during the pandemic. The watchdog said local Covid lockdowns or restrictions at destinations …

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says Scots are unlikely to be able to travel abroad this summer. She says they might not even be able to take domestic holidays this Easter. While school children will return to the classroom this month, there will be no wider relaxing of lockdown rules she says. In an update to the Scottish parliament, Ms Sturgeon …

How to book a place in a quarantine hotel and arrange coronavirus (COVID-19) tests if you’re travelling to England from a country on the banned travel list. This guidance is for people arriving in England who have visited or passed through a country where travel to the UK is banned (sometimes called the ‘red list’) in the 10 days before their arrival. …

Mandatory Covid testing will be introduced for everyone arriving in England from 4am on Friday, the Government has confirmed today. All visitors and all residents travelling back to England will need proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken no more than three days before departure. The Department for Transport (DfT) said the test must be ‘of a diagnostic-standard test’ such …

National lockdowns in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland make it illegal for anybody to undertake non-essential travel. Yet, British Airways and Ryanair continue to refuse to offer refunds for passengers who would have to break the law to take their flight. When asked the UK’s five biggest airlines if passengers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can claim …