Covid: All countries to be removed from England's travel red list
The DfT said the red list would be reviewed every three weeks, with data - including the emergence of new variants - monitored in case countries needed to be added back on.
Scotland's Transport Minister Graeme Dey said the move would help the tourism sector "take another step back towards normal operations". But for the travel industry, it's mostly a symbolic move. The announcement won't make a huge difference to the number of flights coming into the UK - the red list had already shrunk dramatically earlier this month.
Fully vaccinated travellers arriving in England from countries including all EU nations, the US, Australia, India, Pakistan, the UAE and Hong Kong need only have a lateral flow test on arrival. Arrivals in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland currently must have the more expensive PCR test although this will change on Sunday.
Tim Alderslade, from industry body Airlines UK, said the announcement "should provide further reassurance to passengers as we get closer to the key Christmas and January booking window". But Clive Wratten, head of the Business Travel Association, said "the lurking threat of further introductions to this list and the continued existence of quarantine hotels means that it does not give travellers the confidence that they need".
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