Airline and airport chiefs are urging Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon to enable double vaccinated passengers to return from amber list countries without the need for quarantine in line with England on July 19.
The bosses of Tui UK and Ireland, Jet2, easyJet, Airlines UK, Loganair and Edinburgh and Glasgow airports warn that current restrictions are causing further ongoing damage to Scottish aviation and businesses, “jeopardising tens of thousands of jobs” that depend on Scotland’s air links
In a joint letter to Sturgeon they described the relaxation of travel rules for England announced last week by transport secretary Grant Shapps as a “positive move towards the genuine reopening the sector has been looking for”.
Shapps confirmed last Thursday that fully-vaccinated holidaymakers returning from amber list countries will no longer have to self-isolate from July 19 – but the rule only applies to England as the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland make their own decisions on the matter.
The Scottish first minister is due to lower restrictions across Scotland from July 19 and Sturgeon is due to make a Covid statement to a specially recalled Scottish parliament tomorrow (Tuesday).
The letter, signed by the likes of Tui’s Andrew Flintham, Jet2’s Steve Heapy, easyJet’s Johan Lundgren and Tim Alderslade of trade body Airlines UK, says: “It will provide far greater opportunities for people to travel, do business and see family and friends, often after many months apart.
“Whilst this progress will need to be built upon – by many more countries being safely added to the green list and through further steps to remove onerous testing requirements to open up more non- quarantine travel to all – the summer season, for England at least, essentially starts now.”
It adds: “We have consistently and fully supported the UK and Scottish governments to do what is right in the face of this pandemic, including through ongoing support for a robust red list of countries from which travel should be heavily restricted.
“However, we know that vaccination is the primary means of enabling us to live with Covid-19 and return to normal life.
“Today, given the success of the UK’s vaccination programme and proven efficacy of vaccines against Covid-19 variants, including the Delta variant, easing restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers is supported by the science. It is also consistent with the unlocking occurring across the domestic economy, and internationally including across the EU through their own Digital Covid Certificate which, from 1st July, has enshrined the principle that fully vaccinated EU nationals should be exempted from travel restrictions.
The letter points out: “As you know, connectivity is vital for Scotland. We urge you to support travellers and Scotland’s aviation sector by bringing a quarantine exemption into effect for fully vaccinated UK residents from 19th July, and would be very happy to provide any further information or data on how the sector can support and enable implementation, if this would be of assistance.”
A Scottish government spokesperson told the Telegraph: “We are considering relaxing restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers arriving from amber list countries, but it needs to be fair and deliverable.
“Where possible we will look to adopt a four-nation approach for the reopening of international travel. However, decisions on border health measures are a devolved matter and will be taken by ministers on the basis of evidence and with the safety of our communities as our primary concern.
“If the clinical and scientific advice is that it is safe and appropriate to treat vaccinated travellers differently, we will consider changes to the restrictions and we will make an announcement on that shortly.”