Holiday bookings jump as UK Covid travel tests axed

Holiday bookings have jumped with "notable increases" in trips planned for February half-term and Easter ahead of Covid travel tests being scrapped. Jet2 said bookings had increased by 30% on last week after the announcements that rules would be relaxed for people arriving in the UK. The rule changes mean fully-vaccinated people arriving in those countries from abroad do not need to take Covid tests. The change will come into effect from 04:00 GMT on 11 February. Steve Heapy, CE of Jet2, said the removal of testing was "game-changer" for the travel industry. He said demand was "already strong" before the rule changes for England and Scotland were announced on Monday, but said bookings had since risen further. On Tuesday, the Welsh government confirmed it was "reluctantly retaining alignment" with the UK government to also remove tests. However, First Minister Mark Drakeford said the devolved government would "implement measures to encourage travellers arriving into Wales to take a lateral flow test, plus a follow-up PCR test if positive". Northern Ireland has since announced it will align with the other nations.<br/>