Bookings to South Africa rose by 150% after it was removed from the red list, Virgin Atlantic said
The transport secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he hoped the switch to lateral flow tests was in place "in time for people returning from a half-term holidays potentially, and certainly by the end of October". In addition to people taking their tests at home, some airports might offer passengers the ability to take lateral flow tests "as soon as coming through the gates", he said.
But industry body Abta insisted it wanted the switch from PCR tests - which can cost about £75 per person - to happen in time for the half-term break, with Heathrow airport describing it as "critical" to saving holidays. It called the relaxation in travel rules a "positive step" but said the UK should follow the EU and US in eliminating all testing for fully vaccinated passengers from low-risk countries.Mark Tanzer, chief executive of Abta, said: "The reduction of the red list to seven countries is a sensible step forward in further opening up international travel.