Flyers snap up long-haul trips after UK eases Covid rules

British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways and TUI reported surging interest in long-haul travel after Britain last week scaled back coronavirus testing requirements that had acted as a barrier to sales. Package-holiday giant TUI said bookings soared almost immediately on the policy change. British Airways Holidays, meanwhile, saw searches jump nearly 40% compared with the final week of 2021, with New York, Dubai and Barbados the most sought-out locations and beach resorts generally leading the way. At Virgin, searches increased 150% Thursday, the day after the U.K. announcement, from a week earlier, with New York and Barbados again among leading destinations alongside Orlando, Florida. Topping the list was London Heathrow, suggesting pent-up demand for inbound visitors -- some of them likely to be traveling on business. The pickup in activity is a positive sign for sales in coming months, and gives a much needed boost to airlines focused on the long-distance journeys hardest hit by the travel downturn. Flight-search specialist Skyscanner said Britons are also booking further ahead as confidence returns, with a fifth of reservations now coming between one and two months in advance, up from just 9% last year.<br/>