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Ukrainian airspace announcement by The Sectary of State for Transport
Following the horrific events in Ukraine, I’ve instructed the UK Civil Aviation Authority to ensure airlines avoid Ukraine airspace to keep passengers and crew safe. We continue to stand with the people of Ukraine and work with our international partners to respond to this act of aggression – Grant Shapps
Australia reopens border to international travellers after two years
Australia finally reopened its border to international visitors on 21 February with the UK providing the highest number of bookings to the country, which has effectively been closed for nearly two years due to the pandemic.
Qantas restarted its international network for Australian citizens and visa holders on 1 November 2021, with several routes being reintroduced in the past few months. More routes will be added during March and early April, including Brisbane-Singapore, Sydney-Manila and Brisbane-Los Angeles.
UAE removes pre-arrival PCR test requirement for fully vaccinated
Travellers who are fully vaccinated no longer need to take a PCR test before arriving in the UAE, meanwhile close contact isolation rules have been relaxed amid a series of relaxing of covid rules.
Germany among latest European countries to relax travel restrictions
Countries have continued easing their Covid-19 travel restrictions including Germany which has removed the UK from its list of “high-risk” areas.
This move by Germany’s government means that UK travellers no longer have to complete a pre-departure digital registration form – the change came into effect on 20 February. Fully vaccinated arrivals from the UK can enter Germany for any travel purpose. All visitors to Germany still must carry a negative Covid test result, proof of vaccination or show they have recently recovered from the virus.
EU recommends easing travel restrictions from next month
The European Council has recommended that member states of the European Union ease restrictions on non-essential travel into the bloc from March 1.
The Council advises EU nations to lift testing and quarantine requirements for travellers who have been fully vaccinated with an EU or WHO-approved vaccine, or who have recovered from the virus within 180 days prior to travel. For more information, click here.
Qatar Airways to adopt Avios as rewards currency
Qatar Airways plans to adopt Avios as its reward currency for its Privilege Club, dropping its existing Qmiles currency. The airline will transition to Avios “by the end of March”, with members seeing their existing Qmiles balance automatically converted into Avios on a 1:1 basis. For further information, click here.
Travel news as a glance:
- American Airlines is to suspend its London-Seattle route during Summer 2022, due to a delay in the deliveries of new Dreamliners
- Eastern Airways returns to Wick-Aberdeen route
- Air Canada resumes routes to 34 destinations
- Dubai airport remains world’s busiest international airport
- SAS to resume Copenhagen-Birmingham and Stockholm-Edinburgh routes this summer
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