Tag: International Flights

More than 40 countries have banned UK arrivals because of concerns about the spread of a new variant of coronavirus.

Flights from the UK are being suspended to territories across the world including Spain, India and Hong Kong.

France shut its border with the UK for 48 hours, meaning no lorries or ferries can leave from the port of Dover.

Boris Johnson said he spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and both sides wanted to resolve “these problems as fast as possible”.

The prime minister told a Downing Street press conference: “We had a very good call and we both understand each other’s positions.”

Mr Johnson, who earlier chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency committee, added: “We are working with our friends across the Channel to unblock the flow of trade.”

And French Europe Minister Clément Beaune said they would announce on Tuesday what measures were being introduced “after this phase of emergency and harsh precaution that we had to take”. He said they would come into effect from Wednesday.

European Union member states met earlier in Brussels to discuss a co-ordinated response, with officials suggesting a requirement for tests could be imposed on all people arriving from the UK.

It came as the Northern Ireland Executive met on Monday night to consider whether to impose a travel ban between NI and England, Scotland and Wales.

• Christmas ‘in jeopardy’ after ban on UK travellers
• Laura Kuenssberg: The battle to control a sprawling crisis
• Flights shut down as EU discusses UK virus threat
• New coronavirus variant: What do we know?

Countries to impose a ban on UK arrivals include Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Russia, and Switzerland.

Some of the bans are already in force while others are to begin on Tuesday.

Eurotunnel services to France are also suspended and Eurostar trains to Belgium are not operating.

However, Eurotunnel spokesman John Keefe said he hoped travel from the UK could begin on Wednesday or Thursday.

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has suspended all international commercial flights for a week amid reports of the appearance of a new mutated strain of coronavirus in a number of European countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Sunday citing an official source at the Interior Ministry.

The Kingdom has also decided to close its land as sea borders.

The suspension of international travel except for emergency cases, which is part of the precautionary measures seeking to ensure the health and safety of citizens, can be extended by one more week, according to the source.

The decisions, which have been taken as precautionary measures, are the following:

1. Temporary suspension of all commercial international flights for travelers, except in emergency cases, for a week, which can be extended for another week. However, the foreign flights that are currently in the Kingdom are allowed to leave.

2. Suspension of the entry to the Kingdom through land and seaports temporarily for a period of one week and it can be extended for another week.

3. Everyone, who has returned from one of the European countries or any country where the new strain has appeared after Dec. 8, 2020, must adhere to the following:

A. Self-isolate for a period of two weeks from the date of his arrival in the Kingdom.

B. Undergo coronavirus tests during his isolation period after every five days.

C. Anyone, who has returned from or passed through a European country or any country where the new strain of COVID-19 appeared over the past three months, must take a coronavirus test.

The measures will be reviewed in the light of the developments related to the pandemic based on the assessment of the Ministry of Health, according to the source.