Travel rules are easing with many airlines now increasing the number of flights they run each day.
The news comes as Glasgow Airport announced that TUI will be expanding their holiday programme for summer 2022 and flying to more destinations.
The operator has said that flights to Cancun will operate three times a week, increasing to four during peak summer holidays whilst flights to Florida will operate once weekly and once fortnightly which will then increase to three flights a week during peak summer holidays.
Matt Hazelwood, Chief Commercial Officer at AGS Airports added: "As international travel restrictions continue to be relaxed, we know that there is huge pent-up demand from our passengers who want and need to travel again. TUI’s decision to significantly increase capacity on some of our most popular destinations in Turkey and Spain is very welcome news indeed.
"We are particularly pleased to see the return of services to Cancun and Orlando, which have historically been extremely popular with our customers."
So with many holidaymakers fully vaccinated and ready to travel after lockdown and restrictions, what rules can people expect when travelling to Germany, Hong Kong or Ireland?
Covid travel rules from the UK to Germany
At present all travellers entering Germany from the UK are required to complete pre-departure digital registration regardless of their vaccination status.
If you’re fully vaccinated
Germany uses a two-tier system of risk categories - virus variant areas and high-risk areas - with rules based on each.
The UK is designated as a 'high-risk area' so you can only enter for holidays if you are fully vaccinated.
Travellers aged six and above must:
- Provide proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative covid test
- Had your last vaccine dose at least 14 days prior to departure
Germany will accept the UK's proof of covid recovery and vaccination record.
Evidence of your covid vaccination status can be provided digitally (through the NHS app or NHS website) or as a printout (this can be requested from the NHS by calling 119).
A screenshot or photo is not sufficient.
Whilst those who are not fully vaccinated will need to self-isolate, fully vaccinated and recovered individuals are exempt from this requirement so long as they have uploaded their proof of status on the pre-departure digital registration portal.
If you’re not fully vaccinated you may only enter Germany from the UK if you are:
- A German citizen
- The spouse, partner or child under 18 of a German citizen
- A resident of Germany
- The spouse partner or child under 18 of a resident of Germany
- Serve in an important role
- Have an urgent need to travel
Travellers who are not fully vaccinated and do not meet one of the exemptions outlined above will not be able to travel to Germany for a holiday.
For those individuals eligible to enter Germany who are not fully vaccinated, travel from the UK is generally subject to 10-day quarantine with test and release available after five days.
Unvaccinated travellers with permission to enter Germany
The Gov.uk website states that all permitted unvaccinated or unrecovered travellers aged six or over from the UK arriving in Germany need a negative covid test result.
It can be either a PCR test or rapid antigen taken no more than 48 hours prior to departure or a rapid antigen or other test sample that is no more than 48 hours old at the time of entry.
If you have tested positive for covid within the past year
Individuals who can prove recovery from the virus and the fully vaccinated are exempt from quarantine requirements.
Children and young people
Unvaccinated children five years of age and under are allowed to enter Germany without a negative test as long as they travel with at least one fully vaccinated parent.
The Gov.uk website states: "These children are not obliged to provide any kind of evidence but they will have to quarantine on arrival unless they are entering Germany to visit first-degree relatives and have spent less than 72 hours in a high-risk area like the UK or will spend less than 72 hours in Germany. For all other children under six quarantine ends automatically 5 days after entry."
Covid travel rules from the UK to Hong Kong
Travellers who have visited the UK within the past 14 days are banned from entering Hong Kong or transit through Hong Kong International Airport.
The original period between visiting the UK was 21 however was shortened to the two week period on February 5.
Unvaccinated travellers are not allowed to enter.
Fully vaccinated
If you wish to enter, travellers arriving at Hong Kong International Airport from all places other than mainland China, Macao and Taiwan will need to undergo 14 days quarantine at a designated quarantine hotel.
Upon arrival travellers will need to:
- Provide confirmation of a hotel room reservation at their designated quarantine hotel. You can find further details on the Hong Kong SAR government website.
The Gov.uk website states: "Most travellers arriving from the UK must be fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents. Proof of a single dose of the BioNTech vaccination will be accepted for 12 to 17 year-old Hong Kong residents travelling from the UK or those unable to receive a second vaccination for health reasons.
"Accompanied unvaccinated minors under the age of 12 who are Hong Kong residents or children of Hong Kong residents are also allowed to enter Hong Kong."
In addition, travellers arriving to Hong Kong will need to provide a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based nucleic acid test for covid taken no more than 48 hours prior to their departure.
They add: "Other types of tests such as the reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT- LAMP) will not be accepted and do not fulfil the relevant boarding requirement."
Travellers will also require a separate certificate confirming that the testing laboratory meets the required standards.
Covid travel rules from the UK to Ireland
All travellers must fill out a Passenger Locator Form before departure as failure to do so is classed as an offence.
Individuals travelling from the UK to to Ireland via Northern Ireland should also complete a Passenger Locator Form.
Travellers will also be asked for proof of vaccination or recovery, or to present evidence of a negative RT-PCR taken within 72 hours prior to arrival in the country.
Travellers who are not fully vaccinated or have a proof of recovery certificate and are travelling to Ireland must show a negative RT-PCR test.
As of February 1 2022, certificates for primary vaccination series will no longer be accepted for travel if more than 270 days (9 months) have passed since the final dose in the primary vaccine series.
This means that people wishing to travel their must have had their booster is more than nine months have passed since their second 'primary' dose.
Vaccine certificates based on booster and additional doses are not time limited.
Children aged 11 and under will not need to take a test prior to travelling to Ireland.
If you’re fully vaccinated
Travellers who had had their two primary doses - or/and their booster - must:
- Provide proof of vaccination
- Complete a Passenger Locator Form
No test is required to travel there.
Your final vaccine dose must have been administered at least 14 days prior to travel for most vaccines (at least 7 days for Pfizer-BioNtech and 15 days for Oxford-AstraZeneca).
If you’re not fully vaccinated
If you’re not fully vaccinated, you’ll need to:
- Complete a Passenger Locator Form
- Provide proof of a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before entry
Pre-departure Test
The Gov.uk website states that if you are not fully vaccinated and travelling to Ireland, you will need to provide proof of a negative RT-PCR test
If you have tested positive for covid within the past year
Ireland will accept the UK’s proof of covid recovery record.
If you have proof of recovery record you need to complete a Passenger Locator Form.
