The business travel sector has expressed its disappointment that the United States is not on the green list of 12 countries from which arrivals into England will not be required to quarantine after the restart of international travel on 17 May. Others have responded to the announcement by Grant Shapps, the UK transport secretary, by calling for the green list to be expanded and for business travellers to be exempt from quarantine.
Andrew Crawley, American Express GBT's chief commercial officer, said, "It is hugely disappointing that the United States has not been included on the green list. We welcome that active conversations are underway with the Biden administration, but progress has been too slow.
“Keeping US-UK travel closed is detrimental to the economic recoveries in both countries and prevents the UK from engaging with its biggest trading partner outside of Europe. Transatlantic routes are among the busiest in the world and worth billions of pounds to both UK and US airlines.”
“The US and UK are virtually neck and neck in national vaccination programme progress and have similar R-rates, raising several questions as to why travel between these countries is still being hindered by Government and how it is making decisions. It is vital that the Government continues to provide clarity and add countries to the green list."
Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association, said: “We welcome the inclusion of Singapore on today’s green list. It shows the Government’s commitment to both business and leisure travel. However, key business destinations with low infection and high vaccination rates are not included such as the US and the UAE.
"Today is a small but encouraging step towards getting British business travelling and trading once more which is crucial for the UK economy.”
Scott Davies, CEO of the Institute of Travel Management said: "It’s encouraging to hear that the government’s global travel taskforce recognise the importance of meeting face-to-face, that international travel reunites people and is crucial to rebuilding the UK economy. The announcement of the 12 green list countries is a very tentative step towards unlocking travel from 17 May and is primarily going to benefit the leisure travel industry.
"It’s not going to make much difference to the business travel sector. The traffic light system and its different testing, quarantine and isolation protocols are complex and will deter companies from booking business travel unless it’s absolutely essential. Nevertheless, it is a step in the right direction towards facilitating business travel. But there’s still a way to go in terms of vaccination programmes and consistent Covid testing regimes globally to ensure the safe return of significant levels of business travel."
Jason Oshiokpekhai, managing director of Global Travel Collection UK, said: “The Government continues to bypass the business travel industry as a unique and valuable stream of travel.”
He added, “We have been completely disregarded as a sector. Business travellers span a wide range of industries and economies: from oil and gas to film production and from small to midsize companies, to global accounting firms. It is imperative that the business travel sector is considered for quarantine exemption with proof of a negative test or vaccine protection.
“Allowing exemption for corporate travellers will trigger the completion of rewarding business projects that will benefit businesses, industries, jobs and the economy in the UK. In addition, the average business traveller presents a low risk with many travelling solo, taking business or first-class tickets, staying for a short number of days.
“Travel management companies have the systems, controls and capabilities in place to manage and track travellers. Monitoring measures are already embedded into our operations as part of our duty of care to business clients and key corporate routes. We urge the Government to lean on our resources and utilise our businesses to aid a safe resumption for business travel with quarantine exemption.”
Frustration was rife on both sides of the Atlantic, with the U.S. Travel Association's president and CEO Roger Dow saying: “The UK’s decision to put the United States on their amber status for reopening just isn’t backed by the science. Putting the US on amber status ignores the scientific data regarding increasing vaccination rates, lower infection rates and that the US has the right strategies in place to mitigate risk.”
He added: “The US needs to demonstrate leadership and come to the table with the UK and increase dialogue to allow for a reopening of travel with one of our most important international partners. The US economy will lose $262 billion and 1.1 million jobs if its borders remain shut, and putting a roadmap and timelines forward to quickly create a US–UK travel corridor would be low-risk for both countries and high-reward economically.”