UK urged to allow ‘travel corridors’ between low-risk countries so flights can restart - here’s how it would work

While lockdown restrictions are slowly starting to ease across the UK, the prospect of travelling abroad is still likely to be a while off yet.

In a bid to get the industry moving again, the boss of Heathrow is urging the government to allow travel between so-called “low-risk countries” in a bid to start rebuilding the economy.

How will travel be made safe?

John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport, has suggested the UK adopts a risk-based approach to determine where flights can and cannot travel from.

Mr Holland-Kaye suggested there should be a “free flow” of passengers between the UK and countries that have very low risks of transmission, after warning that the economy will suffer if a blanket ban on travel restrictions continue.

He argued the approach is more than “just about going on holiday”, as 40 per cent of the UK’s exports go on passenger planes from Heathrow.

UK nationals are currently banned from all but essential travel and borders still remain closed between many countries.