Karli Trujillo
Travel corridors, also known as air bridges, are a way to allow people to travel safely without the need for quarantine. They were introduced in the UK in July 2020 to protect certain countries from quarantine rules as they had demonstrated low coronavirus infection rates. The UK government would revise quarantine regulations for travellers arriving in England, and travellers would be exempt from self-isolation if they were travelling or returning from a country with a travel corridor exemption. This was intended to stimulate the economy and not restrict the nation's ability to trade globally in a post-Brexit world.
UK Travel Corridors
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To protect certain countries from quarantine rules as they have demonstrated low cases of coronavirus infection |
| Who does it apply to? | Applies to both UK residents and people visiting for tourism or work purposes |
| Self-isolation exemption | Travellers don't have to self-isolate on arrival in England if they've only travelled somewhere on the travel corridor exemption list, or elsewhere in the UK, in the past two weeks |
| Self-isolation requirements | Travellers returning from a country not on the list must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival in the UK |
| Contact details | Travellers must still provide their journey and contact details on arrival |
| List changes | Countries are added to or removed from the list based on their COVID-19 status |
| Latest removals | Liechtenstein |
| Latest additions | The Maldives, Canary Islands, Mykonos and Denmark |
What You'll Learn
Travel corridors and air bridges
On 3 July 2020, the UK government announced that it would be revising quarantine regulations for travellers arriving in England. From 10 July 2020, travellers would no longer have to self-isolate when arriving in England if they were travelling or returning from a country with a travel corridor exemption. This applied to both UK residents and people visiting for tourism or work purposes. However, travellers needed to provide their journey and contact details on arrival.
The list of countries included in the travel corridor exemption list has changed over time, depending on their COVID-19 status. For example, the Maldives, Canary Islands, Mykonos, and Denmark were added to the list in October 2020, while Liechtenstein was removed. As of 8 July 2020, travellers from the UK could move freely between the following countries without restrictions: Croatia, Denmark, France, Italy, and Vatican City.
While the travel corridor policy was intended to allow people to travel safely, there has been some criticism that it may have contributed to a rise in COVID-19 cases. A study by Public Health England found that 86% of 4,000 positive tests in patients with recent travel links were from countries with travel corridors. This has led to concerns about the effectiveness of the policy in controlling the spread of the virus.
Overall, the travel corridors and air bridges policy was implemented to balance the need for economic stimulation and safe travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. While it has provided some benefits, there are also concerns about its impact on public health.
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Quarantine exemptions
The UK's travel corridor list was designed by the government to protect certain countries from quarantine rules, as they have demonstrated low cases of coronavirus infection. Those arriving in England from countries on the travel corridor list are exempt from self-isolating upon their return. This exemption applies to both UK residents and people visiting for tourism or work purposes.
However, travellers must not have stopped anywhere else in the previous 14 days. If a traveller has stopped over in a country that is not on the list, they will be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival in the UK. For example, if a traveller is arriving from Australia but stopped over in Dubai, they would need to self-isolate, as Dubai is not on the travel corridor list, even though Australia is.
As of July 8, 2020, the countries on the travel corridor list included Croatia, Denmark, France, Italy, and Vatican City. This list is subject to change as countries may be added or removed, depending on their COVID-19 status. The UK government is also able to rapidly remove countries from the safe list if the public health risk becomes too high.
It is important to note that the travel corridor policy does not guarantee reciprocal quarantine-free travel to these countries. For example, as of July 8, 2020, travellers from the UK were asked to carry out a "voluntary quarantine" for 14 days upon arrival in France. Therefore, travellers should check the specific restrictions and requirements of their intended destination before planning their travel.
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Countries with quarantine-free entry to the UK
The UK's 'travel corridors' or 'air bridges' are exemptions from quarantine rules for certain countries that have demonstrated low coronavirus infection rates. The UK government introduced travel corridors to protect the travel industry and prevent the permanent loss of many travel industry jobs.
On July 3, 2020, the UK government announced revisions to quarantine regulations for travellers arriving in England. From July 10, 2020, travellers returning from countries with a travel corridor exemption were no longer required to self-isolate upon arrival in England.
As of July 8, 2020, the following countries were exempt from self-isolation on arrival in the UK: Croatia, Denmark, France, Italy, and Vatican City. However, it is important to note that this list is subject to change, depending on the COVID-19 status of each country. Additionally, travellers must not have stopped in any other country during the previous 14 days to qualify for the exemption.
For example, if a traveller is returning to the UK from Australia but had a layover in Dubai, they would need to self-isolate because Dubai was not on the travel corridor list at that time.
To plan travel effectively, it is recommended to rely on professional travel management companies or utilise tools and websites that provide up-to-date information on the latest travel restrictions.
As of October 2020, the UK added the Canary Islands, the Maldives, Denmark, and Mykonos to its travel corridor list. However, Liechtenstein was removed from the list, requiring travellers returning from there to quarantine.
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The impact of travel corridors on COVID-19 cases
The UK's decision to implement travel corridors with certain countries during the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the country's case numbers. Travel corridors, also known as "air bridges," were introduced as an alternative to blanket quarantine measures, with the aim of allowing safe travel while minimising the economic impact of restrictions.
Under the travel corridor policy, people arriving in England from designated countries with low coronavirus infection rates were exempt from quarantine requirements. This approach was designed to protect these countries from quarantine rules and support the revival of the travel industry and the wider economy.
However, an official study by Public Health England found that the travel corridors contributed to a rise in COVID-19 cases in the UK. The analysis revealed that 86% of 4,000 positive tests with recent travel links were from people arriving from countries within the travel corridor. Greece, Croatia, and Spain were identified as the largest sources of imported cases.
The findings highlighted the need for active surveillance at the UK's borders and prompted concerns about the effectiveness of travel corridors in controlling the spread of the virus. As a result, the government had to act quickly to remove travel corridors with Greece and Spain, demonstrating the dynamic nature of the situation and the challenges faced in balancing public health and economic considerations.
While travel corridors may have had a negative impact on case numbers, they also provided some benefits. By allowing travel to and from specific countries, the corridors helped to facilitate business and leisure travel, contributing to economic stimulus. Additionally, the corridors provided travellers with more predictability and confidence in booking trips, knowing that they would not be required to self-isolate upon their return.
In conclusion, the impact of travel corridors on COVID-19 cases in the UK was complex. While they may have contributed to an increase in imported cases, the corridors also played a role in stimulating the economy and providing a degree of certainty for travellers. The management of travel restrictions during the pandemic required a delicate balance between public health, economic considerations, and the desire for normalcy.
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Countries with air bridges to the UK
The UK's travel corridors, or 'air bridges', were introduced in 2020 to allow overseas holidays to recommence after months of lockdown. These air bridges are one-way—they only apply to travellers entering the UK from certain countries, and do not guarantee quarantine-free travel for those travelling to those countries from the UK.
The countries included in the air bridges scheme are popular European destinations such as Germany, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Denmark, France, Italy, and Vatican City, as well as further-afield locations including New Zealand, Vietnam, and South Korea. Greece was also included in the scheme, despite initially extending its ban on travellers from the UK.
The UK government introduced a traffic light system to classify countries according to the prevalence of coronavirus. 'Green' countries were deemed safer than the UK, 'amber' countries were less safe, and 'red' countries required arrivals to self-isolate upon return to the UK.
The air bridges scheme aimed to preserve vital supply chains, provide economic stimulus, and allow people to travel safely. However, it was recognised that the scheme could change as countries were added or removed depending on their COVID-19 status.
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Frequently asked questions
A travel corridor, also known as an air bridge, allows people to travel to and from a particular country without needing to self-isolate when they return to the UK.
Travel corridors are intended to reduce restrictions while controlling the risks posed by the coronavirus, supporting the aviation sector and the UK's economic recovery.
The UK Government publishes a list of countries that are exempt from self-isolation on arrival in the UK. This list is subject to change as countries may be added or removed depending on their COVID-19 status.
If you travel to a country that is not on the list of exemptions, you must self-isolate for 14 days upon your return to the UK.
If a country is removed from the quarantine exemption list while you are there, your school or employer should take a compassionate approach. You may be able to work from home or take additional paid annual leave.
