Forum Topic

More Countries Ban Flights From The UK

COVID-19: Italy joins Belgium and Netherlands in banning UK flights over fears about new coronavirus strain:http://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-italy-joins-belgium-and-netherlands-in-banning-uk-flights-over-fears-about-new-coronavirus-strain-12168042

Sue Hammond ● 1929d28 Comments

But in the end it's up to the individual sovereign EU member states to make their own decisions ...

Michael Ixer ● 1927d

The European Union has recommended all its 27 members discourage non-essential travel to and from the United Kingdom after a new coronavirus variant was discovered in the country

Ed Robinson ● 1927d

Gov. Cuomo calls for restrictions on flights from U.K. amid new Covid strainLooks like NY too!

Ed Robinson ● 1928d

Michael, it does make you wonder if some of these people live on the same planet.Perhaps they thought viruses like themselves only travel first class and direct!People work on all sorts of projects from all around the world in lots of different locations. And that's before we add in global tourism.

Ed Robinson ● 1928d

It's possible many flight bans were enacted too late. The US banned flights from China but the virus came in via New York from Italy (if I remember correctly, it was a few month ago I read an article on it). 

Michael Ixer ● 1928d

Adam I find it odd that many countries did indeed stop international travel and introduced quarantine - but not the UK, which kept planes flying in throughout.I'm glad that you agree Adam that the UK government's inertia was a disaster!

Ed Robinson ● 1928d

"if the world had quarantined China when the virus first appeared we wouldn't be in this mess"Maybe, but we would all be looking forward to a really miserable Christmas, being unable to buy our imported presents from China.

David Ainsworth ● 1928d

"COVID-19: New strain found in Italy, Denmark, Netherlands, Australia and Gibraltar"So we could call it the Australian Variant perhaps? Or the EU Variant?

David Ainsworth ● 1928d

I wonder what China will call this British Variant when it reaches there.

David Ainsworth ● 1928d

I find it ironic that so many countries are effectively quarantining the UK, if the world had quarantined China when the virus first appeared we wouldn't be in this mess, it's not as though China doesn't have a track record with nasty viruses...

Adam Tripp ● 1928d

You wish!

Barbara Shillabeer ● 1928d

COVID-19: New strain found in Italy, Denmark, Netherlands, Australia and Gibraltarhttp://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-new-strain-found-in-denmark-netherlands-and-australia-says-who-12169262

Sue Hammond ● 1928d

Agreed. The French move seems prudent while the situation is assessed with the UK and EU partners. I can't see its a political move - as has been said other non EU countries like India are stopping flights with the EU. It would be interesting to know where the Australian case was picked up: I know someone who emigrated there about a month ago and the whole family had to quarantine for two weeks on arrival. It could be interesting is if the border gets shut for a long time or again in the future: what hapoens if any lorry drivers get stuck on the wrong side of the EU/UK border with the wrong documents or paperwork if they were expecting to be back by 1st January but got delayed past the end of transition ...

Michael Ixer ● 1928d

Not sure we know it's a British variant. At this stage we are the first country to identify it. Whilst very possibly a British variant there is yet no certainty on that point.

Andy Pike ● 1928d

Crikey, the British Variant virus has reached Australia!

David Ainsworth ● 1928d

That's okay but the variant has also been found in other countries too, Australia being one of them.

Sue Hammond ● 1928d

Adam,You can't tell the UK population one thing and then expect it not to be reported internationally.Boris' briefing gave countries little choice but to take emergency action.

Ed Robinson ● 1928d

Boris is already finished thanks to his abysmal handling of the pandemic Sue.

Lucille Grant ● 1928d

My thoughts too Adam.  I hope Boris doesn't give in.  If he does that's him finished.

Sue Hammond ● 1928d

France closing the border with GB feels like a political move  on behalf of the EU to ramp up the pressure on Boris to cave in over a trade deal, I wouldnt be surprised if it works.

Adam Tripp ● 1928d

I thought that we were only leaving Europe, not the whole world."India suspends all flights from UKIndia said on Monday it was joining other countries in temporarily suspending all flights from Britain after the emergence of a new and more infectious strain of coronavirus.“Considering the prevailing situation in the UK, Indian govt has decided that all flights originating from the UK to India shall be temporarily suspended till 31st December 2020,” the aviation ministry said in a tweet." (Gdn today)

David Ainsworth ● 1928d

"If you do need to travel overseas from a Tier 4 area (and are legally permitted to do so, for example, because it is for work), even if you are returning to a place you've visited before, you should look at the rules in place at your destination and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice."https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-4-stay-at-home

Ed Robinson ● 1929d

My understanding is the UK rule forbidding foreign travel only applies to tier 4 but the travel ban by the European countries applies to the UK as a whole, and France has stopped Eurotunnel traffic for 48 hours. 

Michael Ixer ● 1929d

I am not too sure this applies only to people who live under the tier 4 area.  Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, etc have indicated closing borders for people travelling from the UK (and I understand this to be from the whole of the UK, not just tier 4 area.The Government's website is very clear in saying travel abroad is banned.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1929d

Matt restrictions do not and have never applied to those travelling as part of their work.This is devastating for people travelling back to families for Christmas or freight drivers that now cant get back home.

Ed Robinson ● 1929d

I think it's only people who live in tier 4 that aren't allowed to leave the UK Ivonne. Although that's a bit irrelevant if we're all banned from other countries anyway.

Matt Palmer ● 1929d

And this is from Telegraph Travel:Travel, both domestic and international, is now off the cards for most of the UK throughout the festive period, following Boris Johnson's bombshell Tier 4 announcement last night. Bah humbug. This leaves many questions about logisitics over Christmas and beyond.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1929d

Yes, and travel abroad is prohibited in the UK.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1929d