Government

Rescind ‘knee-jerk’ travel bans now, demands Iata

Airlines body wants governments to follow WHO advice against “blanket” travel bans to stop Omicron

The prime minister said the government will look at the red list and the way it works

MAG: Passenger numbers down by a fifth since Day 2 testing return

Initial data shows a 10-20% decrease in the number of passengers across the group following the reintroduction of the testing regime

MAG calls for urgent review of UK travel rules

The group’s half year results reportedly highlights the "continuing major effect" the measures are having on the travel sector

Union urges govt to bring back furlough during Plan B

‘Our members are already suffering as a result of travel restrictions and now many more are going to feel the pinch as Plan B kicks in’ - TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes

New Covid rules hit sterling plus gang clash at Cancun resort

Covid rules see sterling fall, while Mexico’s drug wars reach Cancun – but there is good news from Saga for staff who are becoming grandparents

'New protection options will empower UK travel businesses'

Protected Trust Services financial director Tom Clay weighs up the pros and cons of trust accounts for TTG

Tourism Alliance urges UK govt to allocate £1.5bn fund to travel

The body called on the central authority to support the sector across the entire period from March 2020 until March 2023

Tui boss calls for end to ‘uncertainty’ of UK govt’s travel rules

Operator’s chief executive wants more “lead times” for changes in Covid regulations

Former CMA boss slams 'scandalous' PCR testing market

Lord Tyrie said overpriced tests and poor service were ’still widespread’ in the UK, adding private firms were taking advantage of holidaymakers

Plan B under review as WFH set to return in Scotland

More Covid restrictions loom in the UK due to Omicron variant, ministers indicate, with Scotland already implementing measures

Govt ‘unpredictability’ stopping travellers, not Covid risk

New study from Holiday Extras claims “faff and confusion” caused by reinstated red list and testing rules is greater problem than virus

Javid hints at travel sector support if Omicron impact is prolonged

Health secretary promises update on new Omicron variant next week as MPs up the pressure on government over the effect of reintroduction of pre-departure testing on the travel industry

'Grant, Saj, Rishi – we just can't go on like this'

Back in the summer, industry leaders gathered outside Westminster for Travel Day of Action; spool forward five months, and Saturday might well go down in history as Travel Day of Rage

Omicron 'likely to impact last-minute Christmas travel'

Slow down in new bookings following emergence of new variant comparable with downturn following arrival of Delta variant in March

Lata urges govt to replace red list with home quarantine model

’Image if the government went around collecting Omicron-positive people from their homes, dragging them off to some shabby hotel for 10 days, and then charging over two thousand pounds for the privilege – there’d be uproar’

Confusion over 'broken' test system but travel stocks rebound

Travellers voice concern over the testing regime as one insider claims it can be cheated, but there is good news for investors in travel companies

Quarantine hotel demand forces agent to rebook clients

Westoe Travel’s Graeme Brett said the UK government’s decision to reimpose hotel quarantine on some visitors had created a ’substantial amount of additional work’

Travel businesses trading at fifth of pre-pandemic levels – Abta

Travel sector employment has also halved since March 2020, according to new research by the association

Tui delivers pre-departure tests to guests in Lapland

The airline sent around 3,500 tests to customers who flew out before the government’s announcement

'The situation moved on': Shapps defends testing U-turn

Transport secretary under fire after all-but ruling out a return for pre-departure testing just days before the government confirmed the regime would be reintroduced

MP helps London agent protest new travel curbs

Tara Hawkins, managing director of Authentic Villa Holidays, told TTG locals were ’sympathetic’ to the plight faced by the trade

Restrictions update before Xmas plus Covid pass for 12-15s

An update on travel restrictions is likely before the three-week timespan, while Covid passports will be extended to younger age groups. Plus, fresh concern over quarantine hotels

Travel industry fury as pre-departure testing reintroduced

Abta said the new rules will be a ’huge blow to travellers and an already devastated industry’