US health officials, meanwhile, are considering tightening travel restrictions to hold back the spread of Omicron, while the World Health Organization is urging some vulnerable people to “delay” their travel plans due to the new variant.

Prime minister Boris Johnson, though, has insisted Christmas parties should not be cancelled this month, despite a leading health official suggesting people should cut back on “unnecessary” socialising during the festive season.

Here are the key headlines travel woke up to on Wednesday (1 December).

European countries could be added to travel red list, warns health minister

Destinations in Europe could be added to the red list, admitted health minister Gillian Keegan, who pledged the government would take “immediate action” in the face of any “flare-ups” of the new Omicron variant. Currently, 10 African countries are on the red list due to the variant. (The Telegraph)

Older, unvaccinated people should delay travel, says WHO

The World Health Organization has said people not fully vaccinated who are vulnerable to Covid, including over-60s, should delay travel to areas with community transmission, as more countries impose curbs to combat the spread of the Omicron variant. (The Guardian)

US may tighten travel rules to fight Omicron

The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is considering tightened travel recommendations and rules, as health officials try to slow Omicron’s spread to the US. The agency could move to narrow the testing window for travellers and add quarantine requirements in certain cases. (Bloomberg)

PM clashes with health officials over new curbs

Boris Johnson has urged people not to “cancel” Christmas parties because of the emergence of Omicron, despite a senior health official telling people to cut back on “unnecessary” socialising during the festive season. (The Guardian)

Swiss help skiers by ditching quarantine rules on transit trips

Switzerland has boosted the ski market by ditching quarantine rules for people transiting through the country. The Swiss government said the new 10-day self-isolation period for arrivals from the UK would not apply when travellers were moving on to another country. (The Times)

Fiji welcomes back tourists despite Omicron threat

The South Pacific destination of Fiji has welcomed back its first tourists in more than 600 days after deciding to push ahead with reopening plans, despite the threat posed by the Omicron variant. (The Independent)

NHS booster jab for all adults by end of January

The UK government has set the target of offering a Covid booster jab to every adult in England by the end of January 2022. The NHS will set up 1,500 vaccination sites for the boosters, as part of efforts to tackle the spread of the new variant Omicron. (The i)