Less rush hour traffic means major commuter train services could be cut next year August 21, 2021 Train operator Govia Thameslink are considering reducing services on major commuter lines into London, in anticipation of the end of “big spikes in rush-hour commuting”, according to reports. The train company operates the Thameslink, Great Northern and Southern lines which hundreds of thousands of people commuting into London and other cities use every day. The [...]
Outrage among holidaymakers as Tui cancels flights to Spain, Italy, Slovenia and Turkey August 17, 2021 Travel firm Tui has cancelled holidays to hotspot European destinations and beyond as coronavirus restrictions continue. The holiday firm will not offer Tui flights to Malta and certain parts of Italy – Sardinia, Sicily and Calabria – or holidays in Almeria and Girona in Spain until at least 31 October. Flights and packages for holidays [...]
Sajid Javid cuts cost of NHS Covid test for travel to £68 August 14, 2021 In a bid to help holidaymakers and drive down the market rate for Covid tests for travel, the health secretary has cut the cost of the travel tests that the NHS provides from £88 to £68 each. Travellers returning from green and amber list countries to England will now pay £20 less per PCR test, [...]
PCR test problems: Complaints soar as drop boxes overflow August 10, 2021 Covid PCR supplier Randox is to resolve issues with its test sample drop-off boxes as photos emerge of them overflowing and long result wait times are reported. The move comes as people posted photos online of full drop boxes in Sutton and Hampstead on the weekend. The swarms of samples are expected to increase as [...]
Motorways and A-roads to benefit from £200m injection amid staycation boom August 9, 2021 The government is set to inject £200m into improving motorways and major A-roads in the southwest of England, so Brits can have smoother rides to see long-missed families. Now domestic travel restrictions have eased, Brits are well on their way to seeing the family and friends they had missed over the previous 15 months of [...]
Mexico headed for travel red list but India turns amber as hotel quarantine rises to £3,700 per couple August 5, 2021 Any couples travelling in Mexico will now see their holiday get whole lot more expensive: The tourist hotspot will move to the UK’s travel red list from 4am Sunday, meaning any Brits arriving back in England must pay for a 10-day hotel quarantine which will rise to £3,700 per couple. The UK Government announced the [...]
Rolls-Royce swings back to profit despite slow international travel recovery August 5, 2021 Engine maker Rolls-Royce reported an operating profit of £307m in the first half of 2021, marking a significant improvement from the £1.6bn in losses a year ago. The group said international travel would bounce back once restrictions are lifted, but warned recovery is “likely to occur beyond the initial expected timeframe of 2022.” Shares had [...]
Private Covid travel tests: Overpriced, unavailable and unaccredited? August 4, 2021 Private Covid PCR test providers will come under investigation from the UK’s advertising watchdog and the government for their hugely variable pricing, while only a fraction can claim to be fully accredited. Government health officials are to carry out an audit of the 420 listed PCR test providers on the gov.uk website and plan to [...]
European Commission urges US travel ban to be lifted for Europeans August 4, 2021 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, has demanded Washington lift entry restrictions for European citizens in an interview with German outlet RND published today. “We insist that there are comparable rules for travellers in both directions. The epidemiological situation in the US and the EU today is very similar,” said the EU Commission President. “We [...]
EU pushes ahead with plan to levy border fee on Brits: Will the UK reciprocate? August 4, 2021 The European Commission has confirmed its plans to charge €7 (£6.20) to travellers visiting Europe from non-EU states, including British citizens. The fee will apply with the introduction of a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) before the end of 2022. It will be a one-off fee valid for multiple entries over three years, [...]