News

Canary Islands removed from travel corridor list

The Canary Islands have been removed from the UK government’s list of travel corridors.

The Spanish archipelago was granted corridor status in October, which  immediately drove an uptick in bookings for the trade for future travel.

From 4am this Saturday (December 12), they will no longer be on the list of destinations exempt from quarantine measures, meaning those arriving in the UK from the Canaries will be subject to 14 days self-isolation.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted confirmation and followed up to say that Botswana and Saudi Arabia have been added to the list of travel corridor destinations, meaning arrivals from those countries will no longer have to self-isolate.


More:Test to release regime ‘unlikely to hit the ground running’

ONS data shows travel is service sector worst-hit by Covid


The UK’s ‘test to release’ scheme is due to begin on December 15, which allows for arrivals into the UK to be released from quarantine if they receive a negative result from a test taken on their fifth day after arrival.

It is yet to be confirmed which tests the UK government will accept for its ‘test to release’ scheme, but it insists on a 97% sensitivity rate.

This week, the Canary Islands ruled that it would accept antigen tests as proof visitors are Covid-free. They are considered less effective in diagnosing Covid than PCR tests, which are typically more expensive and take longer as they require lab analysis. PCR tests meet the 97% sensitivity criteria.


Webcast: ‘Travel agents are having to become so resilient’

Share article

View Comments

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.