UK travel update confirmed with amber list AXED and tests cut for double-jabbed

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced sweeping changes to the traffic light system for foreign travel – with the amber list scrapped, the red list cut down and new freedoms for double-jabbed Brits who do not to have to get a PCR test

Sweeping changes to the travel rules are coming into force to allow families a sunshine getaway over the October half term.

The amber list will be scrapped from October 4 to simplify the advice into “go” and “no go” destinations – with a single red list of countries.

And the red list will be slimmed down, reducing the number of destinations from where arrivals to the UK need to spend 10 days in a Government-approved quarantine hotel.

Eight countries will be removed from the red list from 4am on Wednesday 22 September, including Turkey and the Maldives.

Double-vaccinated passengers arriving from non red-list countries will no longer have to take day 2 PCR tests from a date later in October – but they will have to take a cheaper lateral flow test instead.

From October 4, fully-jabbed travellers will no longer have to take a pre-departure test at all.

Non-vaccinated arrivals will still have to take a test three days before coming to England, book day 2 and day 8 PCR tests, and fill out a passenger locator form.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps unveiled the plans, which were signed off by Cabinet ministers on Friday morning.

He tweeted: “From Mon 4 Oct, if you’re fully vax you won’t need a pre-departure test before arrival into England from a non-red country and from later in Oct, will be able to replace the day 2 PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow.

“In addition, EIGHT countries and territories will come off the red list from Weds 22 Sept at 4am, incl. TURKEY, PAKISTAN and MALDIVES.

“We’ll also be introducing a new simplified system for international travel from Mon 4 Oct, replacing the current approach with a single red list and simplified measures for the rest of the world – striking the right balance to manage the public health risk as No.1 priority.”

Turkey, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Oman, Kenya and Sri Lanka are all coming off the red list after 4am on September 22, meaning Brits can avoid being forced to stay in a quarantine hotel.

The Government had pledged to do a formal review of the rules on foreign travel before October 1.

The regular three-weekly update of which destinations are designated green, amber and red had been due on Thursday but it was delayed by the Cabinet reshuffle.

The changes will apply to England, but the devolved administrations usually take similar decisions when it comes to foreign travel.

Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry body, said: “This is a positive step which moves us much closer to the reopening of UK aviation and provides greater reassurance to passengers desperate to travel.

“By reducing the number of red list destinations and scrapping PCR testing, ministers have paved the way for people to get away this October half-term and into the winter following 18 months of uncertainty.

“It will provide a real shot in the arm for a sector that until now has not been allowed to trade properly.”

But he warned that day 2 testing meant the UK remained an outlier across Europe.

Tory Transport Committee Chairman Huw Merriman also welcomed an overhaul of the “cumbersome travel rules”.

He said: “The need for caution is clear but with 80% of our country now vaccinated, UK travel needs a shot in the arm and this could be it.

“It’s a relief to see the Government move on these issues and this announcement, timed ahead of October half-term, could have an immediate impact on the UK’s travel industry.”