Here are the new essential lockdown travel rules for the UK

The UK is entering another lockdown. In an attempt to reduce the rate of new infections, severe restrictions on travel and activities have been imposed, similar to those applied across the country last March.

While the four nations of the UK may have slight differences in timing and rules, the basic principles are very similar.

The measure will have a massive impact on potential tourists, business travelers, and industry.

These are the key issues, starting with travel within the UK.

If you are working or have care tasks, as needed. But for everyone else, traveling anywhere outside of your local area seems impossible, unless it’s to buy essentials or seek medical treatment.

People will only be allowed to leave home for exercise (a relaxation of the rules from the first lockdown) to go to work or if they have care duties.

Many of them will, as the government continues to provide capacity for key workers to travel to and from their jobs. The cost to the taxpayer of operating almost completely empty trains is around £ 30 million per day, with a few million pounds more being spent on local bus services.

Grand Central and Hull Trains, open access rail firms operating on the East Coast Main Line in competition with the government-funded LNER, are likely to cease operations entirely for the duration of the shutdown.

During the first blockade in March, the two main long-distance bus operators, National Express and Megabus, stopped operations completely for several months.

The rules for England stipulate that people can go out once a day to exercise, with their family (or bubble of support) or with another person, but they must not travel outside their local areas to exercise.

A “local area” is defined as “the town, town, or part of the city where you live.”

The government says: “You can travel a short distance within your area to do so if necessary (for example, to access an open space).

“If you need to travel, walk or bike whenever possible, plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transportation. This will allow you to practice social distancing while traveling. Avoid carpooling with people outside your home or your bubble of support. “

A short trip to an outdoor location should qualify, if there are no reasonable alternatives nearby, but a 30-mile trip to the coast would not.

While cycling is a legitimate form of exercise, rides that take you away from home will be considered outside of your local area and therefore illegal.

The Scottish government is more specific, citing: “Recreational activities, outdoor sports or exercise, walking, biking, golfing or running that start and end at the same place (which can be up to 5 miles from the limit your local authority area) as long as you follow the rules about meeting with other households “

No. The Scottish Government says: “Traveling for the purpose of doing essential work on property other than your primary residence should not be used as a pretext for a holiday.

“You should not stay longer than necessary to do the necessary work.”

No. There have been calls for stricter border restrictions, including from former health secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Airlines and airports have campaigned for many months for a pre-departure or on-arrival testing regimen. But ministers have always rejected the principle as ineffective, insisting on self-isolation upon arrival.

Now the government is ready for a U-turn with a demand that matches many countries around the world, for a PCR test within 72 hours of the trip.

The government will continue to insist on the 10-day quarantine, with early release if the coronavirus test result is negative five days after arrival.

Some selective flight bans will be implemented, such as the one currently in place against South Africa. Of course, such measures are ineffective if passengers simply take alternative routes.

As with those who live on Level 4 in England, only essential travel is possible – for work, medical treatment, or urgent compassionate reasons.

Many travelers are abroad right now, enjoying the sun in Dubai, the Indian Ocean, and the Portuguese island of Madeira.

They are almost certainly safer in these places than in the UK; They should be able to complete their vacation as planned and then travel back, going straight home from the airport. In some cases, travel companies may require you to leave early.

For example, if flights are cut due to lack of customers, that could mean that tourists are told, “Either you fly home now or you go alone.”

If you have booked a suitable vacation package through a company like Tui, Jet2 or easyJet Holidays from now until the end of the lockdown, the trip will almost certainly be canceled. Once you are, you will be entitled to a full refund within two weeks.

For people who have booked flight-only deals, the situation is more complicated.

If your flight is canceled, there is no discussion: you are due a full refund within a week. But if you go ahead, the airline can argue that it doesn’t need to offer you a money back and that you can have a coupon or postpone your trip instead, potentially at additional cost.

Yes, but on a very small scale.

In the spring 2020 lockdown, easyJet shut down completely for 11 weeks. Ryanair and British Airways contracted a basic flight service to provide essential connectivity.

The direct financial impact of another lockdown will be significantly less than in March, April and May 2020.

January is the low season for much of the travel industry; Aside from the February semester and some activity around Valentine’s Day (February 14), many travel companies sell at a loss in the first three months of the year.

The industry has already canceled the winter sun market; the first half of the ski season is gone and the second half seems to be in jeopardy.

However, the unpleasant news of the lockdown will further affect consumer confidence.

January should also be the month for travel companies to make a lot of cash – taking bookings from people who need a dream to look forward to after Christmas and New Years are over.

While a wide range of spring and summer vacations are offered, the travel industry is selling a fraction of the normal number of vacations.

That they are living the third consecutive winter (summer has been a disaster for most of them), and that this is the deepest.

With every attempt by travel companies to reboot on a large scale seemingly thwarted due to new government restrictions, companies are increasingly asking for help that they say is desperately needed if the UK is to have a half-decent travel industry. for when the coronavirus crisis hits. it’s over.

A spokesperson for Abta, the travel association, said: “For ten months now, many travel companies have been unable to generate revenue, putting jobs and businesses at risk, and the latest government measures mean this is unlikely to change. soon”.

“Other countries, including France and Italy, have established specific plans in recognition of the unique challenges travel faces.”

Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, said: “It is vital that any lockdown is accompanied by action to support our aviation industry.

“If we can’t reopen travel, the future of UK aviation will be really bleak.”