Britain, pressed by airlines, may ease rules for vaccinated travellers

Britain is considering easing travel rules for double vaccinated people, a move that would placate airlines which have launched legal action against the government’s curbs on trips abroad. Airlines are desperate for restrictions to be relaxed in time for July and the peak season when they make most profits, while Britain has for now stuck to quarantine rules that deter travel. Europe’s biggest airline Ryanair teamed up with Manchester Airports Group to launch legal action against Britain over its travel policy. Other airlines could join. The pair filed papers for judicial review at England's High Court at about 1200 GMT on Thursday, a spokesman for MAG said. But Britain has indicated a possible relaxation, with the Department for Transport saying on Thursday it was considering how vaccinations could be used for inbound travel. More than half of British adults have received both doses of COVID-19 vaccine, putting it far ahead of Europe. The Daily Telegraph reported Britain was looking to follow the European Union’s move to allow fully vaccinated tourists to avoid COVID-19 tests and quarantine from July. "We have commenced work to consider the role of vaccinations in shaping a different set of health and testing measures for inbound travel," a government spokesperson said on Thursday.<br/>