A group of industry organisations are working together with government for the first time with ‘Travel Safe’ advice as the UK emerges from Covid-19 lockdown.
The campaign follows the relaxation of two-week quarantine rules for international arrivals from Friday.
This allowed UK holidaymakers to travel to more than 60 lower-risk destinations without the need to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival or return.
A ten-week ‘Travel Safe’ social media campaign across Facebook and Instagram starts today.
The advice will be on display in UK airports, ports, travel retailers and food and drink outlets highlighting specific advice for passengers.
The summer promotion emphasises the travel industry’s commitment to the broader transport sector recovery and complies with government recommendations and requirements.
The UK Travel Retail Forum (UKTRF), Airports Operators Association (AOA), Iata and Airlines UK are collaborating on the guidelines, building on official Department for Transport measures.
Participants include Manchester Airport Group, AGS Airports, Regional City Airports, Doncaster, Belfast International, Liverpool, Leeds-Bradford, Jersey, Newcastle, Bristol, Birmingham, Luton, Heathrow and Gatwick.
Aviation minister Kelly Tolhurst said: “As people start to head off on their summer holidays, we must all adopt new ways of travelling to keep everyone safe.
“The ‘Travel Safe’ campaign is a fantastic initiative that will help reiterate Government advice, informing passengers of the changes to expect at the airport and on flights and reminding everyone of the steps industry is taking to protect travellers.”
Iata Europe regional vice president Rafael Schvartzman added: “As the UK aviation sector begins its recovery, the most immediate priority will be to protect the well-being of staff and passengers.
“We are optimistic that we’ll see a return of more normal passenger and air traffic volumes, but this will take time.
“Government-industry guidance – globally aligned through the International Civil Aviation Organization – such as the ‘Travel Safe’ campaign, is a crucial first step in the sector’s recovery that will pave the way to getting passengers flying again.”
AOA chief executive Karen Dee said: “Airport travel in 2020 and beyond will be different, but we’ve worked hard with the government, public health authorities and our industry partners to ensure the changes to the passenger journey are appropriate and help to create a safe environment.
“The ‘Travel Safe’ campaign will be key to inspiring customer confidence as the sector recovers, helping passengers to understand government advice and promoting good practices amongst travellers.”
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, said: “Passenger and colleague wellbeing, safety and assurance are key to getting aviation back on its feet.
“The sector has experienced unprecedented change in recent months, but through straightforward communication, such as ‘Travel Safe’, passengers are fully equipped for the ‘new normal’ travel experience.”
UK Travel Retail Forum chair Francois Bourienne said: “After an extended period of restricted travel, it is important for the industry to help to maintain passenger and colleague confidence that their journey will be safe and comfortable.
“The ‘Travel Safe’ campaign brings together port and airport operators, airlines, ferry operators, food and beverage outlets, travel retailers and the government to help passengers travel through clear and concise messaging throughout UK airports and ports and across social media.
“These are challenging times for every industry, no more so than transport and aviation, but the sector is fully committed to restarting safely, with all the necessary protocols in place to advise passengers on how their journey and airport experience will be different from what they’ve been used to.”