Raab warns against foreign travel
Minister’s call to halt journeys for 30 days
THE GOVERNMENT has moved to recommend all non-essential travel globally for the next 30 days is cancelled as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said travellers faced lockdowns and restrictions on their movement abroad.
Speaking in the Commons today Mr Raab outlined the extreme measures as a response to measures in other countries changing in a quick and unpredictable manner.
He said: “UK travellers abroad now face widespread international border restrictions and lockdowns in various countries. The speed and range of those measures across other countries is unprecedented.
“So I have taken the decision to advise British nationals against all non-essential international travel.”
He said British people who decide that they still need to travel abroad should be fully aware of the increased risks of doing so.
And that includes the risk that they may not be able to get home, if travel restrictions are put in place.
Mr Raab’s measures come after the European Union announced plans for a 30-day ban on non-residents entering the bloc, restrictions that are not expected to apply to Britons.
The rapidly-changing global picture has seen 430 changes to FCO travel advice in the last week – more than in the entirety of 2019.
The Government will issue detailed advice on maintaining the flow of goods to the UK, while protecting staff working on shipping routes.
Mr Raab said: “We do regard this kind of travel as essential and we will work with industry to issue detailed advice.”
It comes after UK airports warned they will shut down “within weeks” without Government
intervention due to the coronavirus.
Trade body the Airport Operators Association (AOA) urged Ministers to unveil a series of measures to help airports amid dwindling passenger numbers.
This includes providing or organising emergency financing “as a measure of last resort”, suspending Air Passenger Duty for six months and allowing VAT payments to be deferred.
AOA Chief Executive Karen Dee said: “Governments across the world are supporting their national aviation industries, as many parts of the global travel industry have come to a halt.
“As some airlines call on the UK Government to act similarly, we are clear that airports will shut down in weeks unless urgent action is taken to support the industry.
“The Government must step in to see airports across the four home nations through the current crisis, and make an unequivocal commitment to doing whatever it takes to sustain the UK aviation industry.
“For the sake of the UK economy it is essential for the UK Government to catch up to its peers across the continent and provide support to the sector and the wider economy through financing, guarantees, grants and tax relief.”
Airlines have cancelled thousands of flights and announced plans to ground the majority of their aircraft due to travel restrictions and the drop in demand for flights.
Ryanair, Virgin and EasyJet have cut flights by 80 per cent this month and IAG has decreased capacity by 75 per cent.
Heathrow Airport said on Monday it is taking “immediate steps to safeguard the financial resilience of our business including the protection of jobs”.