Travel expert predicts some flights will go ahead from March but ‘lots’ must change first
Simon Calder says UK 'can book a holiday if they want to'
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Holidays are not an option for Britons at the moment, foreign travel for “non-essential” purposes currently illegal. However, there is some hope Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s “roadmap” out of lockdown could see foreign holidays return from May 17.
Travel expert Simon Calder has said in order for this to happen “lots has to be taken apart” in terms of restrictions.
Despite this, he predicts some flights will be able to jet off sooner than others.
He believes certain flights will be given the go-ahead from March 28.
Alas, these will likely not be to foreign shores, but instead will only apply to certain domestic flights.
During an Instagram Live question and answer session with his followers, one hopeful holidaymaker asked the travel pro if he thought flights overseas would be able to go ahead from March 28.
“The answer is no, but it is an interesting question because you are allowed to fly overseas probably in the sense that you will be able to go from England to Northern Ireland,” he said.
He predicted: “You will be able to travel across to Northern Ireland if they do what I expect them to do which is open up to the UK.
“You will be able to fly domestically within England definitely from March 29. It is possible the date will move.
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“But you will not necessarily be able to fly to Scotland or Northern Ireland, despite what I just said.
“There are no domestic flights between England and Wales at the moment. There are from Scotland but then that relies on the rules in Scotland and in Wales.”
Mr Calder concluded: “The first day any of us are allowed to go abroad except for essential purposes is May 17.”
Of course, in order for this to happen a number of current rules and restrictions being imposed by the UK Government would need to be withdrawn.
“Lots and lots has to be taken apart before we are in a position to travel any further than our front doors,” said Mr Calder.
“That should happen on March 29 in England when the ‘Stay at Home’ rule will be removed.
“I sort of think you might find the same thing happening the same day in Wales, but not Northern Ireland and not Scotland.”
He added the new “declaration to travel” will also need to be required.
“Crucially, you’ve got to have a lot of the restrictions lifted so you don’t have to spend hundreds of pounds on tests and go into quarantine on the way back,” concluded the travel expert.
It is not yet clear how international travel will be resumed, though many countries are already in discussions about the use of vaccine passports.
The EU has put forward plans for a “green pass” for travel which would hold information including whether a person has been vaccinated or tested for Covid.
In April, the UK Government is set to reinstate its Global Travel Taskforce who will work on ways to ensure travel can be resumed safely.
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