Statement from Airlines UK, AGS Airports Ltd and Edinburgh Airport following the First Minister’s update on international travel.

Responding to the First Minister’s announcement on international travel restarting in Scotland from 17 May, Airlines UK, AGS Airports and Edinburgh Airport have issued the following statement:

“Whilst removing the travel ban is a step in the right direction it is very much a missed opportunity with so few countries making it onto the green list.

“We are again in the position of being a week away from a major change to operations and are waiting on details of how the Scottish Government wants this to work and how it will be managed. We need that detail as soon as possible to allow everyone to understand what is required.

“We appreciate there are many things to consider but we encourage the Scottish Government to work with us on making testing more affordable rather than it being a barrier for those who need and want to travel. We would also encourage government to take advantage of the vaccination rollout to open up many more green countries in the EU at the new review point in three weeks, as the EU themselves have proposed, and to work where possible as the four nations to ensure consistency and avoid confusion for operators and passengers.

“The Scottish Government must also be very clear about when and how we can encourage visitors from green list countries to try and save the thousands of jobs in Scotland that depend upon international travellers.”