Government

Balpa demands summit with PM after Heathrow sees 'five-hour' border queues

"Government decisions have seemingly set about destroying the foundations of global Britain by an apparent deliberate undermining of the aviation industry" - acting general secretary Martin Chalk

All eyes on lates market as consumer confidence grows

Despite criticism over the Covid-19 testing system and inconsistent government advice, agents are looking ahead to the coming months with renewed optimism – Rob Gill reports

Anguilla to introduce day four test requirement

Leisure travellers heading to the island will now have to take a PCR test on the fourth day of their stay at their own expense

Agent campaign group calls for new joint lobbying effort

Target leads last push to avoid redundancies through sector-specific support from government, with furlough due to end this month

More than 200,000 sign petition urging reduction in PCR travel test costs

"The government should intervene now and give this sector the support it needs to help save jobs and give people a chance to travel"

Trust issues: navigating the thorny issue of Atol reform

Like it or not, Atol reform is coming – and both operators and agents could face tighter restrictions on how they protect customer cash. Rob Gill reports

'Get your your Atol application in now', says CAA

Large percentage still to submit September Atol renewals, according to authority

WTTC: 'UK govt has 30 days to save the travel industry'

End of furlough and failure to simplify UK’s travel rules likely to create perfect storm for travel businesses at the end of the month, council warns

Unite union urges govt to retain furlough for aviation

Assistant general secretary Diana Holland said a failure to safeguard aviation jobs would ‘dramatically damage’ the sector’s long-term recovery

Domestic breaks pose 'bigger Covid risk' and furlough plea

Covid test firm outlines greater risk of staying in the UK than going abroad as union makes fresh bid for greater furlough support – Wednesday’s national headlines

Welsh ministers consider private travel test U-turn

Travellers are currently required to use NHS PCR tests when returning from abroad at a cost of £68 each

PCR tests for travel 'here to stay', health minister warns

Health minister Lord Bethell has reportedly indicated to testing providers the government is unlikely to scrap the requirement for travellers to take PCR tests upon arrival in the UK

EU removes US from Covid safe travel list

Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro and North Macedonia have also been struck off the list

Heapy: 'Governments must do more to bring testing costs down'

"When you compare taking a holiday to practically any other area of life, there simply isn’t a level playing field" - Jet2 chief Steve Heapy

'Staycation boom' to continue and PCR testing 'here to stay'

UK accommodation and holiday providers are already reporting healthy interest for 2022 according to Tuesday’s national press headlines (31 August)

What has happened to the transatlantic travel taskforce?

The taskforce was set up in June to explore ways and means of restarting travel between the UK and the US, but silence has fallen over its progress

Agents welcome traffic light update but condemn govt decision making process

’The growing safe list of green and amber destinations is really helping boost the recovery of the travel industry and we are already seeing a frenzy of activity from both travel consultants and customers’ - Not Just Travel co-founder Steve Witt

Heapy: 'Traffic lights review cannot come soon enough'

’With so many areas of everyday life opening up, it is frustrating that taking a holiday should still be subject to a stricter set of rules,’ says Jet2 chief

Ministers 'doing bare minimum to stop travel testing 'rip-off'

Labour urges transport secretary Grant Shapps to take tougher action on firms "exploiting" the testing system

Barrhead: 'October could be extremely busy for departures'

Barrhead president Jacqueline Dobson said an influx of business in October "would be a crucial part of recovery" ahead of winter

Aviation sector calls for end of traffic light regime

’Too many families are having to look over their shoulders for rule changes, and pay through the nose for tests,’ said Airlines UK chief Tim Alderslade

Scottish govt to allow travellers to use private Covid tests

Move is seen as being crucial to reducing the price of PCR tests in Scotland

Speakers announced for TTG seminar: Back to business - what next for the UK travel industry?

Speakers have been announced for TTG’s seminar on September 2 with sessions focused on navigating the end of furlough, examining the ski sector and a big interview with Travel Counsellors’ global sales director

Thailand calls red list decision ‘devastating’ but hopes it will be ‘short-lived’

Destination will move to the UK’s red list from Monday due to a rise in Covid cases