Mark Briffa, CEO of global air charter brokerage Air Partner, has responded to the UK government's traffic light system announcement. “After months of uncertainty, we are delighted that international travel can resume from 17 May. We have seen an uptick in enquiries over the last few weeks for destinations such as Portugal and those returning to the UK from abroad, largely from clients who own jet cards, allowing them to buy travel hours without fixed dates with the facility to cancel with 24 hours' notice. Multi-generation holidays, belated celebrations, a desire to explore once again, combined with concerns about crowded terminals are reasons more clients are booking private jets, which operate as a 'flying bubble' offering speed, convenience and luxury.

“Reflecting anticipation for a resumption of international travel, over the past two months Air Partner has seen new clients in the UK adding flying hours to our jet cards, which can be used for helicopter or winged aircraft, and a 15 per cent rise in sales and renewals year-on-year. We experienced a 321 per cent increase in people interested in private flying during the summer of 2020 as many COVID-19 restrictions lifted. We expect private travel will continue to grow in popularity and look forward to welcoming new and returning clients who have eagerly awaited a change of scenery. As an extension to our services, Air Partner can assist clients with organising PCR tests. Private aviation is and has always been one of the most reliable and safest modes of transportation, especially during the pandemic.”

From 17 May, the ‘Stay in the UK’ regulation will cease and international travel will be allowed to restart, governed by a new traffic light system.

As the virus is still spreading in many parts of the world, people should not be travelling to amber or red countries.

Given the need for caution, the green list will initially be modest with only the following 12 countries and territories on the initial list when international travel resumes on 17 May: Portugal (including the Azores and Madeira), Israel and Jerusalem, Gibraltar, Iceland, Singapore, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, New Zealand, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

Countries on the green list pose the lowest risk, therefore passengers who have only visited or transited through a green list country will not be required to quarantine on arrival in the UK. They will be required to fill in the passenger locator form, provide a valid notification of a negative test result prior to travel and take a sequencing test on day two after arrival.