Elsewhere, there is new Covid advice for children travelling to the United States, while another explanation has been put forward for Border Force queues.
Here are the headlines affecting travel on Monday 27 September.
Plan to refund customers for flights they could not take during Covid ‘scrapped’
Plans to force airlines to refund passengers for direct-booked flights which became ’illegal’ to take due to Covid travel restrictions have reportedly been scrapped. Ministers are said to have quietly abandoned the proposal, which would have seen the CAA granted extra enforcement powers. (The Times)
Under 18 visitors to US should wear masks, says Biden’s medical chief
President Biden’s chief medical advisor Dr Anthony Fauci has said vaccinations and testing meant the US was safe to visit but unvaccinated children should wear masks in “congregated settings”. Travellers should have no fear about going to the US, he said. (The Times)
Heathrow ‘bedlam’ blamed on new staff rota
Changes to Border Force shift patterns are in part to blame for long queues at airports. Extending shifts from 10 hours 25 minutes to 12 hours mean more are calling in sick from exhaustion, it is claimed. Sick rates have doubled since the new system was introduced. (The Daily Mail)
La Palma airport reopens
La Palma’s airport has reopened despite its erupting volcano forcing thousands to leave their homes to escape cascading lava. Continued disruption on the Canary island is being caused by molten streams. (The Independent)
Army may be sent in as petrol stations run dry
Between 50 and 90% of independent petrol stations are without fuel due to panic buying as Boris Johnson considers sending in the army to drive tankers. Competition law has already been suspended to allow oil companies to share supply data. Suppliers have blamed panic buying rather than a fuel shortage. (The Standard)
Warm weather ends as rain sweeps in
Britain is set for a week of unsettled wet weather after unseasonal warm conditions. The change could bring a last-minute overseas bookings rush coinciding with the relaxation of testing rules and the October half-term. (The Sun)
