British Airways to lead travel "proving trials"

LONDON - British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Heathrow have joined forces to prove it is possible to quickly and easily verify those arriving into the UK who are fully vaccinated - an identification process already in place for outbound travel to several countries.

Earlier this week, Germany became the latest country to confirm it would accept fully vaccinated UK travellers without the need to quarantine. The new UK proving trial, enabling inbound travellers to present their fully vaccinated status, will support the Government to move forward with its plans to remove quarantine for double jabbed passengers entering the UK from "amber list" countries.

The initiative will see fully vaccinated volunteers travelling on selected flights from Athens, Los Angeles, Montego Bay and New York to London Heathrow showing proof of their vaccine status. "The trial aims to reassure Government that airlines and airports can check vaccine status upstream and away from the Border, ensuring no further pressure in UK immigration halls," British Airways said.

British Airways customers will be able to access a discounted rate for the mandatory arrivals tests.

Internationally recognised vaccination credentials will be accepted in the proving trial including the NHS "As the proof-of-concept develops, the options for customers to show vaccine status will rapidly be expanded, across physical, digital and integrated formats, including IATA Travel Pass," the airline said.

The UK has led the world with its successful vaccine programme, which the Government promised would lead to the end of Covid restrictions. To date, 86 percent of UK adults have had a first dose of a Covid vaccine, with 64 percent fully vaccinated.