Meanwhile, prime minister Boris Johnson’s fate still hangs in the balance, with a growing number of MPs willing to vote against him if there is a confidence vote on his leadership.

Elsewhere, pilots joining Flybe say they are having to agree to “aggressive” confidentiality rules, while skiers at the Winter Olympics in China are complaining about mountain conditions being “too cold”.

Here are the headlines the travel industry woke up to on Monday (7 February)

Australia to reopen borders to international travel

Australia has announced the reopening of its borders to fully vaccinated tourists and other visa holders for the first time in nearly two years. The reopening of Australia’s border is scheduled for 21 February, revealed prime minister Scott Morrison. The country has effectively been closed to most travellers since March 2020. (BBC News)

UK travellers warned about Covid rule traps

Holidaymakers have been advised to check their half-term travel plans to ensure they meet new Covid vaccination rules when visiting EU destinations. France, Spain and Denmark are now requiring anybody who received their initial vaccination jabs more than 270 days ago to have a booster shot to enter the country. (The Observer) 

PM in crisis: 100 MPs ready to vote against him

Boris Johnson is continuing to face a serious threat to his leadership with more than 100 Conservative MPs likely to oppose him in a potential confidence vote. Johnson is still likely to win any such vote by his MPs but it would still leave him “severely wounded” as prime minister. (The i)

Flybe pilots ‘stung by unusually strict confidentiality rules’

Pilots joining Flybe claim they are being asked to agree to “unusually aggressive” confidentiality rules as a condition of working for the regional airline, which is preparing to restart services this spring. Industry sources said Flybe wants to prevent new recruits sharing information about working conditions with third parties. (The Telegraph)

Skiers say Winter Olympics are too cold

Athletes and countries competing in the games in Beijing have complained that conditions on the mountains are “perilously cold”, while some competitors who have been forced into quarantine after testing positive for Covid are unhappy with the accommodation they are having to stay in. (The Guardian)

State of emergency declared as truckers paralyse Canadian capital

The mayor of Ottawa has declared a state of emergency 10 days after a convoy of lorry drivers and protesters occupied Canada’s capital in a protest about strict Covid rules. The drivers have brought the city to a standstill after blocking roads with their vehicles, trailers and tents. (The Times)