The Week In Travel

Japan reopened its borders to foreign tourists this week for the first time in two years. In a hugely positive move for Japan’s travel industry and economy, travellers from 98 countries will be allowed to enter the country on the condition that they are part of a fully-guided package tour. Guides and travel service providers taking responsibility for visitors fully complying with Covid-19 rules.

All visitors must have proof of a negative Covid test 72 hours prior to departure, and visitors from countries classified as ‘yellow list’ or ‘red list’ will have to take a test on arrival. Those from certain ‘blue list’ countries will be able to skip the additional test when arriving.

Elsewhere, United Airlines has revealed its plans to launch a non-stop service between San Francisco, California and Brisbane, Australia. In launching the service, which would run year-round, United Airline claims it is the first carrier to add a new transpacific route since the beginning of the pandemic.

London Heathrow Airport is set to reopen Terminal 4 next week for the first time since early 2020. Following a noticeable rise in demand for air travel, it is hoped that the resumption of Terminal 4’s operations will create additional room in terminals 2, 3 and 5.

Technology company Thales has developed a new Cabin Baggage Explosive Detection System to improve airport security. The system, called HELIXVIEW, uses artificial intelligence to interpret threat and notify operators if there is cause for concern.

Alongside being able to detect explosives and knives, the technology can also identify dismantled weapons parts placed in separate bags. The system was designed to make the airport security process smoother, faster and more efficient and is expected to be certified by late 2023.

Following mass disruption and cancellations of flights across Europe last week, Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA (International Air Transport Association) has placed the blame on ‘government U-turns’. With airlines, airports and travel agencies coming under fire and being accused by Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps of ‘selling tickets beyond their means’, Walsh hit out at the policy-makers. He claimed that the issue lies with the uncertainty surrounding decisions, stating that they left ‘little time to restart an industry that was largely dormant for two years.’

Meanwhile, Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye warned that it could take the aviation sector another 12 to 18 months to full recover after tens of thousands of jobs were cut during the pandemic.

And lastly, a group of 14 friends on a ‘stag weekend’ in Amsterdam refused to be deterred by the travel chaos, making their way to Calais to catch the ferry back to the UK. Upon discovering that the one ferry back to Dover that day didn’t take foot passengers, the group set about purchasing bikes from shops and Facebook sellers. They were only able to find 13, however the one remaining traveller was lucky enough to find a couple who let him into their car for the crossing.