There is also reaction to yesterday’s news from P&O Ferries, plus a call to investigate Ryanair’s refund policy.

Meanwhile, an attack on Ukraine has damaged building at one of its key airports.

Here is the news affecting travel on Friday 18 March.

Covid restrictions end after almost two years

All remaining Covid travel restrictions have now been lifted for passengers entering the UK. As of 04.00, unvaccinated arrivals no longer have to take tests – the rule had already been lifted for the vaccinated – and passenger locator forms have been scrapped. (BBC)

Russian shelling hits Lviv airport area

The western Ukraine city of Lviv – 70km from the Polish border – has been hit by Russian bombardment, with reports of damage near its airport. Sources say the airport itself has not been damaged, but an aircraft maintenance facility was hit. (BBC)

P&O Ferries outrage continues

A backlash against P&O Ferries is growing after the firm sacked 800 staff without giving any notice. The UK government said it will review contracts with P&O after it fired its employees with plans to replace them with cheaper agency workers. MPs described P&O’s actions as "callous", "disgraceful" and "dastardly". (BBC)

Government ‘told in advance’ about P&O sackings

Maritime and aviation minister Robert Courts was told about P&O’s plan to instantly sack 800 workers on Thursday the evening before. Courts admitted the government had been given advance warning but said that he was “extremely concerned and frankly angry” at the way P&O had treated workers. (The Times)

Calls for P&O Ferries to repay furlough cash

P&O Ferries is facing calls to reimburse the £10 million it received in furlough cash amid widespread condemnation. Owners DP World paid a £270 million dividend to shareholders at the end of April 2020 while P&O Ferries cut around 1,100 jobs as demand for travel plummeted during the pandemic. (Daily Mail)

Which? calls for Ryanair refunds investigation

UK consumer champion Which? has called on the CAA to investigate Ryanair’s refund policy after a customer threatened to sue the carrier. Ryanair announced last year the introduction of a new policy, which sees the airline pay customer refunds into a “wallet” attached to their account. If passengers want to withdraw funds, they need to ask Ryanair. (City AM)

Markets react to interest rate rise

The Bank of England raised rates for the third consecutive time yesterday but warned further monetary policy tightening would be “modest” in the face of economic fallout from the war in Ukraine. The pound fell by 0.3% against the dollar to $1.311. Brent crude oil rose 8.8% to $106.6, its biggest one-day percentage gain since May 2020. (The Times)