Bristol Airport has welcomed the introduction of a 'traffic light' system to re-start international travel - but says a more affordable testing process is needed for passengers.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps has today set out the framework for the safe return of international travel, which could resume from May 17.
The Government is set to introduce a traffic-light system, which will categorise countries based on risk alongside the restrictions required for travel to protect the public and the vaccine rollout from international covid 19 variants.
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Dave Lees, chief executive of Bristol Airport welcomed the new system but said further clarity on the plans was needed by the travel industry along with a more affordable and 'customer friendly' testing system for passengers.
"Customers and the travel industry urgently requires clarity on the next steps needed to resume air travel and particularly the need for customers to have a cheaper and more affordable and customer friendly testing process being in place," he said.
"From our customer research we know there is pent-up customer demand for air travel," he added. "The Government needs to safely unlock the travel industry ahead of the summer season.
"Bristol Airport is committed to work with Government on all measures necessary to reopen international travel to support customers, colleagues and assisting the region's economic recovery and protecting jobs now and in the future from the impact of this devasting pandemic."
Key factors in the assessment for travel will include the percentage of the 海角视频 population that have been vaccinated, the rate of infection and the prevalence of variants of concern. It will also look at the country's access to reliable scientific data and genomic sequencing.
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The framework also includes the removal of the permission to travel form - meaning passengers would no longer need to prove they have a valid reason to leave the country.
Government chiefs say the risks posed by covid-19 variants remains 'significant' and restrictions for inbound passengers, such as 10-day managed quarantine, home quarantine, and stringent testing will remain in place - but will apply to people differently depending on whether the destination visited is categorised as 'green', 'amber' or 'red'.
The rules for each traffic light colour as follows:
- Green: Arrivals will need to take a pre-departure test as well as a (PCR) test on or before day two of their arrival back into the 海角视频 - but will not need to quarantine on return (unless they receive a positive result) or take any additional tests, halving the cost of tests on their return from holiday.
- Amber: Arrivals will need to quarantine for a period of 10 days and take a pre-departure test, and a PCR test on day two and day eight with the option for Test to Release on day 5 to end self-isolation early.
- Red: Arrivals will be subject to restrictions currently in place for 'red list' countries which include a 10-day stay in a managed quarantine hotel, pre-departure testing and PCR testing on day two and eight.
Government bosses say testing remains an essential part of protecting public health as restrictions begin to ease - with all arrivals who are not exempt required to book a pre-departure, day two and day eight test before travelling.
Arrivals travelling from 'red list' countries should book a quarantine package before departure, and arrivals from 'amber' and 'green' countries will be required to book test packages before travelling from one of the government's approved list of providers.
A Government spokesman said: "Testing post-arrival remains an important tool in our wider measures to manage the risk of imported cases - allowing us to monitor positive tests and ensure people isolate, as well as identify and genomically sequence variants of concern.
"We will also work with the travel industry and private testing providers ahead of international travel reopening, to see how we can further reduce the cost of travel for the British public, while ensuring travel is as safe as possible.
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"This could include cheaper tests being used when holidaymakers return home, as well as whether the government would be able to provide pre-departure tests."
The Government has said it is 'too early' to predict which countries will be on which list.
It says it will set out by early May which countries will fall into which category, as well as confirming whether international travel can resume from 17 May 2021.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "International travel is vital - it boosts businesses and underpins the 海角视频 economy - but more than that, it brings people together, connects families who have been kept apart, and allows us to explore new horizons.
"The framework will help allow us to reopen travel safely and sustainably, ensure we protect our hard-won achievements on the vaccine roll out, and offer peace of mind to both passengers and industry as we begin to take trips abroad once again."
The 海角视频 will also play a role in the development of international standards around a digital travel certification system.
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The Department for Transport (DfT) is working across Government to consider the role certification could play in facilitating outbound travel, for those countries which have systems in place.
Work also continues to develop a system that would facilitate travel certification for inbound international travel.
To give passengers more certainty when travelling, a 'green watchlist' will be introduced to help identify countries most at risk of moving from 'green' to 'amber'.
The watchlist will provide greater assurance for those who wish to travel abroad.