Corona tests before departure for arriving travelers are likely to be scrapped.
The move would be a big boost for holidaymakers planning winter sun breaks and the besieged travel and tourism industry.
The test rules for international travel will be discussed at a meeting of the government’s Covid-19 operations (Covid-O) committee on Wednesday.
The PA news agency understands that Transport Minister Grant Shapps is pushing for a relaxation of the restrictions to help the aviation sector.
There have been calls to drop the requirement that even fully vaccinated travelers must take a PCR test after arriving in the UK – but such a move may be opposed by the Department of Health and Social Care.
Research commissioned by the Manchester Airports Group (MAG) – which owns Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports – and the commercial agency Airlines UK indicated that the removal of all international travel tests would not affect the spread of the Omicron variant in the UK.
The analysis, conducted by Oxera and Edge Health, concluded that domestic restrictions would be the only way to reduce Covid cases related to the strain.
The number of passengers at MAG airports fell by more than 30% from the beginning of December, following the introduction of the stricter test requirements.
Health Minister Sajid Javid told parliament on December 13 that the rationale for the rules would be “minimized” as Omicron became the dominant variant in the UK.
MAG CEO Charlie Cornish and Airlines UK chief Tim Alderslade said in a joint statement: “This latest research from Oxera and Edge Health clearly supports the view that travel test requirements can be fully eliminated without affecting the total number of cases and hospitalizations in United Kingdom.
“It should give the UK Government the confidence to move forward with the immediate removal of these emergency restrictions, giving people back the freedom to travel internationally to see their loved ones, explore new places and create new business opportunities.”
Cornish and Mr Alderslade said the restrictions “come at a huge cost to the travel industry” and the wider UK economy.
Virgin Atlantic chief Shai Weiss said the aviation industry has demonstrated how “international travel can work safely and take full advantage of our world-leading vaccine rollout”.
He continued: “Unnecessary test requirements will only result in confusion for millions, damage customer confidence and financial recovery.
“We urge the British Government to act now and show the way for the return of large-scale travel.”
Paul Charles, CEO of travel consulting firm The PC Agency, said “tough testing measures have really hurt the recovery in the sector”.
He added: “Travel bans and restrictions do not prevent infections in the UK as we have seen, but only damage consumer confidence and slow bookings.
“I do not have to take any test to travel from London to Edinburgh by train, where I mingle with many people, so why should it be different to travel from Brussels to London by train?
“Testing should only be done when I’m back in the UK planning to visit relatives or go to a big event.”
Meanwhile, Hong Kong announced a two-week ban on flights from eight nations, including Britain, in an attempt to stop the spread of Omicron.
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