MPs are to debate support for the aviation, travel and tourism industries in the wake of today’s sector-wide Travel Day of Action.
The general debate in the House of Commons on Thursday has been scheduled by the backbench business committee.
It follows lobbying by the Save Future Travel Coalition of 15 leading travel associations and trade groups, including a petition which attracted more than 20,000 signatures.
This will be the second debate to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on the industry in two weeks following a session covering the aviation, travel and tourism industries on June 10.
The sheduling of the fresh debate follows Tui joining Manchester Airport Group’s legal action against government.
While general debates allow MPs to discuss important issues, they do not end in a vote nor can they change the law.
However, the latest debate is due to coincide with an expected limited update of the government’s green list for overseas travel tomorrow.
The traffic light system for international travel will be updated with any change in the rules to be introduced from Tuesday, June 29.
A limited review of the green list of destinations that do not require quarantine on return to the UK is expected, with Malta and possibly the Balearic islands being added, according to The Times.
Malta could be the only mainstream addition to the green list, which currently includes Gibraltar, Iceland and Israel as the only viable quarantine-free countries for foreign holidays.
The island has Europe’s most advanced vaccination programme, with 80% of the population receiving at least one dose. It has registered one case of the virus per 100,000 residents over the past seven days.
Ministers are considering just a “handful” of changes to the list – potentially including some Caribbean islands – because of the four-week delay to the lifting of domestic lockdown restrictions until mid-July.
It is expected that people who have ad both jabs against Covid-19 will be allowed to travel abroad to most countries from August.
Health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed plans to exempt double-jabbed travellers, details of which are due to be announced this week.
However, he said they would still be required to take daily lateral flow tests after they returned to the UK to help protect the public from new variants.