Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Paragraph: 8
The aviation industry thrives on certainty.
Conclusion
The aviation industry thrives on certainty. In order to return passenger aircraft to the skies and to connect the UK to the world, a road map to restart international travel is urgently needed. The Department has not yet specified the standards that destination countries must meet on vaccine and testing capabilities in order to reopen for travel with the UK. In addition, it has not clarified whether such criteria will be flexible if the risk of transmission of new variants between vaccinated individuals is found to be minimal.
Paragraph Reference:
8
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government partially agrees with this recommendation. We fully understand the importance of certainty to the air transport industry, and have therefore set out the detailed roadmap for international travel contained in the GTT report. While we have been clear on the requirements for testing required to travel to the UK, wider vaccine and testing standards must be agreed internationally through multilateral organisations including the World Health Organisation. The Secretary of State chaired a virtual meeting of G7 transport ministers on 5 May to identify common goals and principles for the reopening of international travel, including best practices for sharing scientific data and promoting coordination on universally recognised travel certificates. We also continue to work with ICAO and other international agencies to develop agreement on the implementation of global standards. In parallel, we are engaging bilaterally with international partners to exchange information and explore how we can open international travel safely, including the potential piloting of digital and non-digital certification. 22. We have set out three “checkpoints” where we will review measures, taking account of the emerging evidence and domestic and international health picture. These will take place as follows: • Checkpoint 1: no later than 28 June 2021 • Checkpoint 2: no later than 31 July 2021 • Checkpoint 3: no later than 1 October 2021 23. These reviews will also take account of a range of different evidence. This will include considerations of the four tests as set out in the roadmap: • The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully. • Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated. • Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS. • Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern. 24. At every stage, decisions will also take account of impacts on border operations and testing capacity