Air bridge update: destination frontrunners

Media speculation is that, under plans being drawn up by ministers, Brits could be permitted to travel internationally to selected destinations from 04 July. An ‘air bridge’ agreement with a small number of low-risk countries would mean that the Foreign Office advice would be relaxed and UK nationals could enjoy their summer holidays abroad without the need for quarantine restrictions when arriving back home.

Reports suggest that the UK government has begun talks with other European governments and the proposal of travel corridors is underway, with criteria drawn up to assess risk and popularity. These corridors would only be opened with countries that have a comparable or lower rate of COVID-19 and that have health and safety measures in place.

Looking at the most up-to-date travel information and border openings, the top European destinations that could reopen to British travellers for 2020 summer holidays include Portugal, France, Spain and Greece. There have also been suggestions in the media that ‘pan-European air bridges’ could be a possibility, linking the UK with favourites such as Bermuda, Dubai and Singapore.

Portugal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, has already voiced his opinion that British holidaymakers would be welcome in Portugal. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Santos Silva said he was optimistic that an ‘air bridge’ between the two countries could be agreed by the end of June. 

The UK’s ‘air bridge’ news follows travel updates from many EU countries, including Spain and France, that have reopened their borders to some international visitors. Once the low-risk travel corridor destinations have been agreed, tourists from those countries would also be able to enter the UK without quarantine restrictions.

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