The transport minister Grant Shapps is reported to be pushing to axe Passenger Locator Forms (PLFs) in time for the Easter holidays.
It is understood he wants to see the end of the forms by the start of April, making it easier for families to fly overseas, according to the Daily Mail.
The report also said the forms are to be “significantly simplified in the coming weeks” as an interim measure.
News about the PLFs comes as the prime minister Boris Johnson is due to set out his plans later today (February 21) to scrap all remaining Covid legal restrictions in England, including the requirement to isolate.
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, told the newspaper: “Ministers are absolutely right to remove the remaining restrictions but this needs to cut across all elements of the economy, including travel.
“If there is no requirement to self-isolate for those with Covid in the UK, jabbed or otherwise, there can be no justification for continuing with travel restrictions for the unvaccinated, including the continued use of the PLF which, although not as bad as testing, remains a deterrent to travel.”
Earlier this month, Shapps has hailed the easing of travel restrictions from February 11, saying eligible fully vaccinated arrivals no longer needed to test when arriving into the UK and “just need to fill out a simplified Passenger Locator Form”.
Agents have said the “complex and lengthy” PLFs, which need to be filled in before returning to the UK, are a barrier for those who want to travel but feel it is too complicated.
More: Shapps promises ‘simplified’ Passenger Locator Form from Friday