The UK government is to end the requirement for travellers to take pre-departure tests before arriving in England from 7 January.
Prime minister Boris Johnson announced the change in the House of Commons on Wednesday, when he gave an update on the government’s policies to tackle the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
The pre-departure test will no longer be required for travellers arriving in England from 4am on Friday (7 January).
Johnson added that the government was also removing the current requirement for travellers to self-isolate until they receive a negative PCR test result.
Instead, people arriving in England will have to take a lateral flow test by the end of day two, and if this is positive, then take a PCR test. This new regime will apply from 4am on Sunday (9 January).
Transport secretary Grant Shapps confirmed in a tweet: “We're removing the temporary extra testing measures we introduced last year at the border to slow cases of Omicron coming to the UK. Now Omicron is the dominant variant and is widespread in the UK, these measures are no longer proportionate.
“After arrival in England, all fully vaccinated people and under 18s will now only need to take a lateral flow test (instead of a PCR test) if they arrive after 4am Sunday 9 January.”
The move to reduce testing requirements for inbound travellers has been welcomed by industry groups.
Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association, welcomed the UK government’s change in policy.
“We welcome the news that pre-departure for the UK testing and arrival PCR tests are to be scrapped,” said Wratten. “These have caused unnecessary damage to the whole travel sector.
“We will now work with our members and partners to deliver safe international business travel so that the UK can once again be a truly global Britain.
“It is imperative that the government backs-up these measures with a robust plan for future variants that does not mean closing our borders and strangling our sector once more.”
Scott Davies, CEO of ITM, said the move was a “sensible and welcome step to remove ostensibly needless friction from the traveller experience”.
“Business travel is an essential economic enabler and UK companies badly need to get their people travelling to the right places again to strengthen, and indeed rebuild, their businesses,” said Davies.
“Anything that simplifies the already complicated travel process and challenges for travel buyers is a plus.”
Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO at Advantage Travel Partnership, added: “Today’s relaxation of travel restrictions is of course a positive for the travel industry.
“Scrapping the pre-departure test and replacing subsequent PCR day two test, and therefore self-isolation on arrival back into the UK, with a cheaper and effective lateral flow test will help to boost confidence.”
Meanwhile Andrew Crawley, chief commercial officer of American Express Global Business Travel, said removing pre-departure tests was “a positive step forward for business travel recovery”.
“Travel restrictions have come at a huge cost to the business travel sector, which is the engine room of our economy, contributing £220 billion a year to UK GDP pre-pandemic,” said Crawley.
“Today’s announcement will help our industry recover, empower UK businesses to reach new markets and catalyse growth.”
Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, called the government’s changes “a necessary step towards frictionless air travel for our customers”.
“Throughout the pandemic we have demonstrated that international travel can operate safely, taking full advantage of our world leading vaccine rollout,” said Weiss.
“We look forward to working together towards the next review at the end of January, when the ultimate goal will be removal of all testing for travel and developing a playbook for how to deal with any new variants.”