Passengers flying on selected British Airways and Virgin Atlantic routes to Heathrow, will be able to upload their vaccination certificates at check-in.
The scheme is to encourage quarantine-free travel to and from the UK, from lower-risk amber countries.
The routes include flights from the US, Jamaica and Greece.
The aviation industry has experienced unprecedented losses and disruption due to the pandemic. The scheme is the latest attempt by airline bosses to convince ministers it is safe to travel without quarantine to low-risk nations.
We are working with @VirginAtlantic & @HeathrowAirport to show it’s possible to verify fully vaccinated travellers arriving into the UK, allowing @10DowningStreet to remove quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers from ‘amber list’ countries. https://t.co/FZ9H8l9D54
— British Airways (@British_Airways) July 7, 2021
Lockdown easing in the UK
The announcement of the trial comes just days after two large announcements from the UK government.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared an easing of all lockdown measures from 19 July, while the Health Secretary announced the end of self-isolation for people that have had two vaccines from 16 August.
Similar schemes are in place across the EU and the US to kickstart the travel industry.
A boost for the travel industry
Heathrow Chief Executive, John Holland-Kaye, said the pilot will allow fully vaccinated passengers to avoid quarantine from 19 July.
“This pilot will allow us to show that pre-departure and arrival checks of vaccination status can be carried out safely at check-in.”
We’ve joined forces with @British_Airways & @HeathrowAirport to show it’s possible to verify fully vaccinated passengers arriving into the UK, paving the way for UK Government to remove quarantine for double jabbed travellers from ‘amber list’ countries by no later than 19 July.
— virginatlantic (@VirginAtlantic) July 7, 2021
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic said in a joint statement that the UK “led the world with its successful vaccine programme.” However, they added it was “failing to reap the economic and social rewards” of the high uptake of the vaccine within the population.
