The UK Government Red List has been extended again, with four new countries joining the list. Time to take a look.
The four new countries that will join the “Red List” will include:
- Philippines
- Pakistan
- Kenya
- Bangladesh
These will be active on the Red List from 4 am Friday 9 April. No countries have been removed.
International visitors who have departed from or transited through the Philippines, Pakistan, Kenya and Bangladesh in the previous 10 days will be refused entry into England.
Only British and Irish citizens, or those with residence rights in the UK (including long-term visa holders), will be allowed to enter and they must stay in a government-approved quarantine facility for 10 days. They will also be required to arrive at a designated entry point. These are
- Heathrow Airport
- Gatwick Airport
- London City Airport
- Birmingham Airport
- Farnborough Airfield
During their stay, passengers will be required to take a coronavirus test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8, and they will not be allowed to shorten their quarantine period on receipt of a negative test result. They will also not be able to end their managed quarantine early through the Test to Release scheme.
No direct flight bans from these countries will be put in place, but passengers are advised to check their travel plans before departing for England.
The full “Red List” from 9th April
- Angola
- Argentina
- Bangladesh (will be added to the list 4 am Friday 9 April)
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Burundi
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Ecuador
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Kenya (will be added to the list 4 am Friday 9 April)
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Oman
- Pakistan (will be added to the list 4 am Friday 9 April)
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines (will be added to the list 4 am Friday 9 April)
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Seychelles
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Suriname
- Tanzania
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Airlines are reacting
Already, Virgin Atlantic has put out a statement about its intentions
We’re aware of the UK Government’s decision to add Pakistan to its red list of countries at 04:00 on 9 April.
Due to high call volumes and long wait times please visit https://t.co/ucQL2IPANe where all the latest information can be found and will be updated. pic.twitter.com/GRwAtj2S1V
— virginatlantic (@VirginAtlantic) April 2, 2021
Other airlines such as British Airways have not put out formal statements yet – but there could well be an impact. Allow time, but contact the airlines if you are intending to travel
Plan ahead where you can
With rising cases in other countries, this won’t be the last major update to the Red List. What is unusual, is this time – there’s a week’s notice to travel, before the bans are implmemented. We’ll have to see if this is something the government wishes to continue, or just update the list with minimal notice as it usually does.
Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond – Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, with in-depth coverage, unique research, as well as the humour and madness as I only know how to deliver.
Follow me on Twitter at @EconomyBeyond for the latest updates! You can follow me on Instagram too!
Also remember that we are part of the BoardingArea community, bringing you the latest frequent flyer news from around the world.