'No firm plans' to restart international travel from Scotland

There are no firm plans to restart international travel from Scotland, the Scottish Government has confirmed.

On Friday, UK transport secretary Grant Shapps said those in England can “start to think” about booking overseas summer holidays as he announced the findings of the Global Travel Taskforce.

The Scottish Government said “where possible” it will look to adopt a four-nation approach, but the position in Scotland “remains that it’s not permitted to travel abroad without an essential reason”.

Shapps confirmed that foreign holidays would resume in England next month and revealed a “framework” that included requiring all arrivals to take pre-departure and post-arrival coronavirus tests.

A new risk-based traffic light system will also be implemented.

People arriving from a “green” country will not be required to self-isolate, but those entering the UK from an “amber” destination must quarantine for ten days.

Existing rules for arrivals from “red” locations will continue, including the requirement to pay to enter a quarantine hotel.

The Department for Transport (DfT) refused to confirm whether foreign holidays will be permitted from May 17, which is the earliest date under the Prime Minister’s road map for easing coronavirus restrictions in England.

It also insisted it was “too early to predict which countries will be on which list”.

In response, airline Jet2.com extended the suspension of its flights and package holidays until June 23.

Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy said the airline had been left “extremely disappointed at the lack of clarity and detail”.

Edinburgh Airport also said there was “no clear plan” for the travel industry’s recovery.

Following Shapps’ announcement, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Border health measures are designed to prevent the introduction of new chains of transmission, and they are even more important now to stop the spread of new strains of coronavirus.

“The position in Scotland remains that it’s not permitted to travel abroad without an essential reason.

“Where possible we will look to adopt a four-nation approach for the re-opening of international travel.

“However, decisions on border health measures are a devolved matter and will be taken by ministers on the basis of evidence and with the safety of our communities as our primary concern.”