Airlines hope EU bloc countries will exempt UK from travel ban

Airlines have pinned their hopes on tourist destinations breaking ranks over EU post-Brexit entry rules as British holidaymakers could face bans from 1 January under Covid-19 measures. Travel industry bodies called for urgent clarity over whether the UK would retain special treatment in regards to coronavirus restrictions. Under EC guidelines, non-essential travel to the EU and European Economic Area states is permitted only for citizens of a few exempt countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, where incidence of coronavirus is far lower, and for citizens of the UK until the end of the Brexit transition period. There will also be an exemption for Northern Ireland residents going to the Republic of Ireland. The World Travel and Tourism Council’s president, Gloria Guevara, said there were “compelling reasons” why the UK should be added to the EU’s exemption list to enable international travel to continue, including “relatively low Covid transmission compared with parts of Europe”. She said: “British travellers are a major contributor to European economies [and] the biggest proportion of inbound travellers to many major EU countries, such as Spain, Portugal and Cyprus.” Airlines said they remained confident that individual EU member states would exercise their right to allow British visitors “non-essential” travel, adding the UK to the list of exempt countries. Story has more. <br/>