Britain to end quarantine for vaccinated travellers in boost for airlines

LONDON, July 8 (Reuters) - British transport minister Grant
Shapps is expected to set out the details of a plan to scrap
quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers who return from
medium risk countries later on Thursday, in what will be a huge
boost for airlines.

Shapps is due to make a statement on travel changes which
will apply to England in the House of Commons at 1030 GMT.

Current rules state that those returning to Britain from
what before the pandemic were its top destinations, Spain,
France, the United States and Italy, have to self-isolate for 10
days, severely dampening demand for travel.

But Shapps is expected to say that those who have had both
doses of the vaccine who return from so-called amber countries
will no longer have to self-isolate from later in July. In
Britain, about 65% of adults are fully vaccinated.

He is likely to say they still have to take COVID-19 tests
on their return, and will provide details of how under 18s who
are not being vaccinated in Britain can travel with their
parents without quarantining.

After 15 months of restrictions, Britain's battered travel
industry has struggled to recover from the pandemic due to the
government's strict rules and has repeatedly called for an end
to quarantine.

Bookings for the crucial peak late July and August holiday
season are expected to soar once there is clarity on an end to
quarantine, a welcome shot in the arm for airlines like British
Airways and easyJet and tour operators like TUI
.

(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by William James)