The UK government has announced it is to reduce the period of quarantine for arrivals from countries which are not on the travel corridors list from 14 to 10 days.
The change applies in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland from 00:01am on Monday 14 December. It already applies in Wales.
The new regime comes into force a day before the test to release scheme starts, under which travellers can pay to take a private test on return to the UK and shorten the quarantine period to five days in the event of a negative test.
Karen Dee, CEO of the Airport Operators Association, said: “The reduction in the quarantine period along with the imminent start of the test-to-release system in England are welcome steps forward that can help boost the safe restart of international travel, increase consumer confidence and begin to pave the way towards an open global Britain.
“However, aviation will only fully recover when the need for quarantine is eliminated on a four-nation basis. UK airports are committed to working with the UK and devolved governments to ensure that pre-departure and rapid testing can be brought in as soon as possible to remove the quarantine altogether.
“Aviation is essential to our economic recovery as well as wider agendas such as global Britain, levelling-up and inclusive, sustainable growth. However, UK airports have been amongst the hardest-hit sectors by the pandemic. That means the UK and devolved governments must continue to work with our airports to provide the necessary financial support to safeguard the future of aviation and thus UK prosperity.”