Travel industry bosses have called on the UK government to scrap testing rules that they say are no longer necessary to curb the spread of Omicron because it has become the dominant Covid-19 strain.
Before Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s review of Covid rules on Wednesday, the leaders argued that compulsory testing for arrivals and departures had hindered their sector’s recovery.
The rules introduced in early December require that all travellers over the age of 12 show a negative Covid test upon arrival in the UK. The test can be a PCR or lateral flow and must have been taken in the two days before arrival.
Within two days of coming to the UK each person must take a PCR test.
But with record-breaking Covid figures being reported, travel bosses have argued the rules are no longer necessary.
Manchester Airports Group chief executive Charlie Cornish and Airlines UK boss Tim Alderslade on Tuesday said the requirements could be removed without affecting overall Covid-19 case rates and admissions to hospital in the UK.
“The health secretary rightly acknowledged, as early as December 8, that the value of any form of restrictions was significantly reduced once Omicron became dominant in the UK,” they said.
“It should give the UK government confidence to press ahead with the immediate removal of these emergency restrictions, giving people back the freedom to travel internationally to see loved ones, explore new places and generate new business opportunities.”
Mr Cornish and Mr Alderslade said the restrictions “come at a huge cost to the travel industry” and the broader UK economy.
Mr Alderslade told Times Radio: “If we cannot get rid of these restrictions before the end of January then we are concerned about the impacts in terms of revenue and [the] balance sheet of a sector that has been absolutely decimated.”
Tim Hawkins, chief of staff at Manchester Airports Group, told the BBC's Today programme that research commissioned by the group showed there was a “basis for taking out all tests” related to international travel, due to the high number of infections in the UK.
“We are beyond the point where international travel restrictions can play a role in managing that peak and if there is no benefit to it then we shouldn't be doing it and we should take those measures out,” he added.
Virgin Atlantic boss Shai Weiss said the aviation industry has demonstrated how “international travel can operate safely, taking full advantage of our world-leading vaccine rollout”.
“Unnecessary testing requirements will only result in confusion for millions, damaging customer confidence and economic recovery,” he added. "We urge UK government to act now and lead the way for the return of travel at scale.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is understood to be pressing for a relaxation of rules to help the airline sector.
Shares of airlines dependent on the British market, including Ryanair, EasyJet and British Airways owner IAG, reversed earlier losses after news outlets reported the plans.
On Tuesday the UK’s daily Covid record was smashed when it reported 218,724 infections.
The US and France are the only other countries to have declared more than 200,000 cases in a single day.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference hours after the figure was released, Mr Johnson said booster vaccines would become the norm for travel to many countries within weeks, as he urged people to come forward for a third shot.
There are still nine million people in the UK eligible for booster shots who have yet to avail of the offer.
Gillian Keegan, Minister for Social Care and Mental Health, backed his call and said Britons should take advantage of the vaccination campaign.
“We would urge everybody, if you’re eligible, if you’re within that 28 days if you’ve had Covid, please come forward,” she told Sky News.
“The quicker we can get everybody boosted the better we can really be prepared to ride that wave that the prime minister talked about.
“It’s one of the key parts of our defence, our wall of defence, and we’re really relying on this as a national mission for everybody to come forward please to get their booster.”
Ms Keegan said “about a million people” are self-isolating after contracting Covid but the government did not have an exact figure.
A backlog has built up of people waiting for tests in order to leave isolation and return to their workplaces.
On Wednesday the UK Health Agency announced changed to the guidance, limiting PCR tests to those with Covid symptoms.
The authority said from January 11 people in England who do not have Covid symptoms and have tested positive for the virus with a lateral flow test will no longer need a confirmatory PCR test. Asymptomatic people account for around 40 per cent of cases.
People who have Covid symptoms should still get a PCR test, the UKHSA said.
“While cases of Covid continue to rise, this tried and tested approach means that LFDs can be used confidently to indicate Covid-19 infection without the need for PCR confirmation,” Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the agency, said.
“It remains really important that anyone who experiences Covid-19 symptoms self-isolates immediately. They should also order a PCR test on gov.uk, or by phoning 119.”
Earlier, Ms Keegan was asked about the reports on BBC Breakfast, and said “I know that the teams are looking at testing and testing regimes”.
“You may be able to expect some news — I don't know when,” she added.
Pressed on whether the public should expect changes to travel testing rules for people entering the UK, she said scientists advising the government “are looking at what makes sense”.
Amid surging cases and with staff shortages affecting multiple sectors, Mr Johnson is not expected to introduce additional measures aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.
Seventeen major hospitals in the Greater Manchester area have suspended non-urgent procedures and treatment as they struggle to cope under the Omicron wave.
At least 12 hospitals have declared critical incidents as mounting staff absences hit the healthcare sector. Those affected include Blackpool Hospital, Westmoreland General Hospital and Lincoln County Hospital.
The NHS Confederation, which represents health bodies, said around one in 10 healthcare workers in England are off sick at the moment. He said the rate is much higher in some areas, with one trust reporting that 750 staff were absent on one day.
MPs will return to Westminster on Wednesday after the Christmas and New Year break.
Mr Johnson is expected to be grilled on the situation during Prime Minister’s Questions later today.
On Wednesday morning it emerged that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had tested positive for Covid, and Shadow Chancellor Angela Rayner would deputise for him at PMQs.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Family: Parents and four sisters
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah
A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls
Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction
Favourite holiday destination: Italy
Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning
Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes
Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure
Command%20Z
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Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Elina Svitolina (UKR) [3] v Jennifer Brady (USA)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Belinda Bencic (SUI [4]
Not before 7pm:
Sofia Kenin (USA) [5] v Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
Maria Sakkari (GRE) v Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) [7]
Court One
Starting at midday:
Karolina Muchova (CZE) v Katerina Siniakova (CZE)
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR)
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) v Dayana Yastermska (UKR)
Petra Martic (CRO) [8] v Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) v Anett Kontaveit (EST)
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
