Holidays within a FORTNIGHT: Government is set to announce quarantine-free ‘air corridors’ to countries such as France, Spain, Greece, Italy and Turkey
- Details of holiday ‘air bridges’ to be published before June 29 quarantine review
- First UK holidaymakers have been arriving in Spain after it lifted quarantine
- France, Greece, italy and Turkey could also be exempted from 14-day isolation
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Britons will be able to take quarantine-free foreign holidays within a fortnight as the government prepares to announce ‘air corridors’ with a series of popular destinations.
Quarantine-free deals are on the verge of being struck with countries including France, Spain, Greece, Italy and Turkey.
The list will be revealed within days, amid claims Downing Street is desperately looking for a way to ditch the blanket 14-day isolation rule for UK arrivals.
Businesses and airlines have voiced fury at the restrictions, while experts have branded it ‘pointless’ when other countries have lower infection rates.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last night that details of the air bridges will be published in ‘good time’ ahead of a June 29 review of the quarantine.
It came as Spain appealed for British tourists to visit saying their holidays will not be ‘radically’ affected by temperature checks and health forms.
Spain has already reopened to tourism and tried to reassure Brits it is safe to visit. Pictured, Playa de Palma beach this week
Holidamakers arrive at Malaga airport in Spain this week as lockdowns slowly ease
Matt Hancock said last night a list of ‘air bridge’ countries will be published in ‘good time’ ahead of a June 29 review of the 14-self-isolation forced upon all arrivals into the UK
Minister Manuel Muniz insisted Spain is now a ‘particularly safe place’ with coronavirus rates that are ‘among the lowest in the world’.
Tourists and travel firms at risk of going bust will be hoping that other popular holiday destinations are also cleared to allow travel without spending 14 days in quarantine.
Mr Hancock told the Downing Street press conference last night: ‘A lot of work is being done on travel corridors, I’ve been working on it over the weekend.
‘And we have a formal review date of the quarantine policy at the end of this month on June 29, and we’ll make sure that in good time for that we publish what we plan to do next in terms of where we think – based on the epidemiological advice – we’re able to formalise travel corridors.
‘I know that people are really looking forward to getting this information, but we’ve got to make sure that we get it right and that work is going on right now.’
The first Britons started arriving in Spain this week after Madrid lifted its ban on foreign tourists and opened its beaches in glorious 100 degree-plus heat.
Travel firms have slashed the price of a one-week holiday to £300 after Downing Street signalled ‘travel corridors’ could be introduced to 10 countries from July 4, with no 14-day quarantine on return to the UK.
A small Ryanair fleet is shuttling people to the south of Spain this week.
Tourists and travel firms at risk of going bust will be hoping that popular holiday destinations are cleared to allow travel without spending 14 days in quarantine. Pictured is Pefkochori on Halkidiki Peninsula, Greece