Search alerts

Abu Dhabi’s local government media office announced yesterday that the emirate will now allow people to enter if they have tested negative for COVID-19 in the previous 48 hours. The largest and wealthiest member of the United Arab Emirates federation, Abu Dhabi has had a ban on passengers entering since 2 June.

The airline has said that it has started consultations on plans to close operating hubs at London Stansted, London Southend and Newcastle international airports; this follows a previous announcement that it may need to reduce staff numbers by up to a third because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As communicated by CVS, effective from 7 July 2020, passengers traveling as tourists arriving at Dubai (DXB) must have mandatory documents in their possession. These include: Health declaration form, Quarantine undertaking form, Copy of PCR test issued 96 HRS before date of departure & Health insurance valid for the duration of the visa validity.

The Latvian government has announced that direct commercial flights between Latvia and the United Kingdom can resume. Details of flights can be found on airlines’ websites; travellers arriving in Latvia from the United Kingdom are still though required to self-isolate for 14 days.

The country's arrival testing fee is changing from 1 July - it will now be ISK 11,000 (around US$80) or ISK 9,000 (around US$65) if booked in advance. All passengers arriving via commercial flights to Iceland can chose to be tested for COVID-19 or self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival.

The country will lift a ban on international flights from 1 July, it announced on 29 June, and allow entry to those who qualify under a new set of loosening restrictions. Those now to be permitted entry will include business travellers, foreigners with work permits or those with spouses in-country. Reportedly, foreigners seeking some forms of medical treatment including cosmetic surgery may also shortly be permitted entry. International arrivals will still be subject to a 14-day quarantine.

The country's government has announced that direct flights from the UK and Sweden will not be allowed until 15 July, adding that they would use EU guidelines to determine which countries were considered at high risk of spreading COVID-19. Greece reopened its main airports in Athens and Thessaloniki to some international flights on 15 June, and will reopen all others on 1 July; flights from most other European destinations will be permitted from that date.

The Premier of Australia's state of Queensland has announced that the state will re-open its borders to residents of all of Australia’s states and territories, with the exception of Victoria. This is provided that travellers complete a border declaration stating they have not been to local government areas in Victoria in the previous 14 days.

Cain International, the privately held real estate investment firm operating in Europe and the US, has signed an agreement with Oberoi, the award-winning hotel group, for the operation of 23 serviced residences at 17-22 South Audley Street, in London’s Mayfair. The Oberoi Group was established in 1934 and owns and operates 33 five-star hotels and luxury resorts across India, Indonesia, Morocco, Mauritius, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

British Airways have announced that from 3 July they will operate three direct flights per week from Tokyo Haneda Airport to the UK's London Heathrow Airport. Airlines already operating or resuming direct services between these airports include Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways. Until the end of July, all passengers arriving in Japan may be required to take a PCR test for COVID-19, and all must self-isolate for 14 days; passengers arriving in the UK must also self-isolate for 14 days.

The country's government has suspended all international passenger flights from any of its airports until 31 July, at which point it will then review the situation. Currently, entry to the country is permitted for some business travellers under strict conditions.

Surrounded by three different beaches, including one with a picture-postcard setting called 'The Wild Beach', the resort will reopen in November 2020 as a 4-star superior property.

The country’s government has confirmed that existing border restrictions will remain in place past 1 July, when it will add an additional 18 countries to its ban on entry. This brings the total number of countries to 129.

Qatar's government have confirmed that they aim to further ease COVID-19 curbs from 1 July, allowing the limited reopening of restaurants, beaches and parks, as infections have passed their peak and the rate is reportedly subsiding. Public and private gatherings of a maximum of five people will be allowed, while employees in the public and private sector can work from their office at 50% capacity.

The country's prime minister has announced that Philip Goldson International Airport will reopen 15 August, effectively jump-starting international tourism to Belize once again. There are though a number of requirements in place for visitors, including daily check-ins on a government app in order to report their movement within the country; passengers must also take a PCR COVID-19 test either shortly before departure from their country of origin, or within 72 hours of their arrival, at their own cost.

Following a small surge in COVID-19 cases, China has imposed strict lockdown conditions on around 400,000 residents of Anxin county, a jurisdiction of Baoding City around 90 miles south of Beijing in Hebei province. Officials announced yesterday that Anxin would be fully closed and controlled, in a move that is reminiscent of those imposed in Wuhan at the height of the pandemic.

LNER have published an update series of resources on health and safety measures being implemented for travel on its UK rail network, including information on air filtering systems being employed. Also included are updated timetables, in-station requirements and a reminder of mandatory PPE guidelines.

The country will from today permit foreign nationals to enter Taiwan providing they are not entering for tourism or to visit friends. A visa application will be required prior to travel and arrivals must provide a negative COVID-19 certificate, as well as being subject to quarantine.

The country's minister of transport has today announced the resumption of further civil aviation activities - as of 1 July 2020, the following domestic airports will re-open: Bram Fischer International Airport, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, Pietermaritzburg Airport, Port Elizabeth International Airport, Richardsbay Airport, Skukuza Airport and Upington International Airport. Previously, domestic travel from international airports serving Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban had been allowed to resume. International travel remains prohibited and South Africa's borders remain closed until further notice, with the exception of repatriation flights.

The country's national airline is set to resume flights between Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and Manchester Airport from 2 July, operating three services per week departing on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Ethiopian Airlines are currently also offering seven flights per week from Addis Ababa to London Heathrow Airport, as well as routes to other European cities.