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While many countries stop flights from the UK due to a new variant of the virus, SAS flies normally until further notice.
SAS claims that they follow the assessments of individual country authorities, as they have during the crown crisis.
– So far, none of the Scandinavian countries have closed. We are monitoring the situation closely and making ongoing assessments, says press contact Camilla Runberg at SAS at E24.
Therefore, SAS will not take action on routes to Norway, if neighboring countries introduce an entry ban from the UK or if the EU introduces common restrictions.
These are the usual ticket conditions that apply if travelers do not want to fly to or from the UK with SAS now, information manager John Eckhoff at SAS informs Dagens Næringsliv, who was the first to discuss the matter.
According to the Oslo airport summary, 17 arrivals from London are planned before the new year. Eight of them with British Airways, six with SAS and three with Ryanair.
Ryanair informs E24 that it will contact all its customers affected by the EU entry ban and offer these refunds or flight changes. The airline will continue to fly between the UK and the locations where they are allowed to continue flying, but will offer customers a new booking before Christmas.
– If passengers do not want to travel the next five days before Christmas, Ryanair will rebook them for free on flights until March 15, the company writes in an email to E24.
British Airways has yet to respond to E24’s inquiries.
Several EU countries have canceled flights
Germany, France, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy have already canceled all flights from the UK due to a new crown variant. Several countries are considering similar measures, including Norway, Deputy Health Director Espen Nakstad tells Aftenposten.
Health Minister Bent Høie says it is important that we act quickly to try to prevent this variant of the virus from spreading further nationally here in Norway.
– We have strict entry measures, but are now considering whether further measures need to be implemented, Høie says in a statement.
Stops
In the UK, more than 1,000 cases of the new coronavirus variant have been found, which can be up to 70 percent more contagious than the common coronavirus, but probably no more deadly.
After several meetings in the government on Friday night and Saturday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new infection control measures in London, in the south-east region of England. In practice, this means a near complete shutdown.
British Health Minister Matt Hancock has stated that the new variant of the virus has gotten out of control. Ask everyone in the affected areas to behave as if they have the virus.
– It will be very difficult to keep the situation under control until mass vaccination begins, the Health Minister said in an interview with Sky News on Sunday.
The new measures include closing all stores and businesses that are not absolutely necessary and requiring that people stay home.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson stressed on Saturday that millions must now cancel their Christmas plans.
Høie is considering measures
Nine cases of the new variant have been found in Denmark and one in the Netherlands. Denmark has not yet adopted travel restrictions vis-à-vis the UK.
Norwegian health authorities are now considering new austerity measures to prevent the new variant of the virus in the UK from spreading in Norway.
– It is important that all people who have arrived from the UK in the last 14 days comply with the quarantine rules. We have strict entry measures, but are now considering whether further measures need to be implemented, he adds.
