Airline industry
Heathrow to pilot fast-track lanes for vaccinated arrivals
Airline industry steps up pressure on ministers to open up quarantine-free travel for amber countries
Wed 7 Jul 2021 09.42 BST

Heathrow is to trial fast-track lanes for fully vaccinated arrivals, in the latest attempt by the aviation industry to convince ministers it is safe to open up quarantine-free travel to amber list destinations.

Passengers travelling on selected British Airways and Virgin Atlantic flights from the US, Jamaica and Greece will be able upload proof of their Covid-19 vaccinations or present paper certificates before boarding, under a pilot programme to be launched this week.

The airlines and airport hope the trial, to be conducted on almost 50 weekly inbound flights, will demonstrate to the UK government that they can quickly and easily verify passengers’ vaccine status away from the border and take the pressure off immigration halls.

On arrival at Heathrow, the fully vaccinated passengers will be directed to dedicated lanes at the border to speed through immigration.

The move comes before an expected announcement this week when the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, will set out details of the government’s plans for travellers from amber list countries to self-isolate on arrival.

Ministers reportedly favour a policy that would take effect before August to waive quarantine rules for double-vaccinated passengers from amber-list countries to England.

Heathrow BA and Virgin said it was essential there was no delay in implementing the changes.

The scheme will initially involve fully vaccinated volunteers travelling on certain flights from Athens, Los Angeles, Montego Bay and New York.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... d-arrivals

Border officials told not to make Covid checks on green and amber list arrivals
Exclusive: officers in England no longer have to verify whether new arrivals have received a negative Covid test
Jamie Grierson Home affairs correspondent
Last modified on Tue 20 Jul 2021 19.57 BST

Border officials are no longer required to make basic Covid checks on people arriving in England from green and amber list countries, according to leaked instructions that have prompted claims that the government is turning a blind eye to the risk of importing Covid cases.

A change that came into effect on Monday means Border Force officers no longer have to verify whether new arrivals have received a negative Covid test, have booked a test within coming days, or have a passenger locator form showing an address where they will isolate if necessary.

Border Force sources contacted the Guardian on condition of anonymity to raise serious concerns with the shift in approach, meantto reduce queues as foreign travel restarts.

The government said it would not comment on leaked documents and stressed that airlines were legally required to conduct all the necessary checks.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/ ... t-arrivals

CEOCambodiaNews wrote: ↑Wed Jul 21, 2021 3:10 am
The government said it would not comment on leaked documents and stressed that airlines were legally required to conduct all the necessary checks.

Quite typical, and utterly ludicrous. This type of devolved responsibility has been happening for a long while.