VSbulletin: COVID-19 Pakistan Added to Red List for UK Entry - Update 2 April 11:00
- 06 April 2021
- News
- Virgin Atlantic
The UK Government has confirmed that Pakistan will be added to its red list of countries from 0400 BST on Friday 9 April 2021.
This means that if travellers who have been in or through Pakistan in the previous 10 days, will be refused entry to the UK. However, if they are a British or Irish National, or have residence rights in the UK, they will be able to enter the UK, but must quarantine in a government approved hotel for 10 days.
Our flights between London Heathrow and Manchester and Islamabad and Heathrow-Lahore services will be operating as scheduled until Friday 9 April.
From 9 April, the UK Government has confirmed that direct passenger flights for essential trips between Heathrow and Pakistan can continue to operate after the country is designated on the red list. We’re currently reviewing our schedule of Pakistan operations from this date, including Manchester services, and recommend that any customers booked to travel to or from Pakistan check their flight status on www.virginatlantic.com.
We understand the difficulties that Covid-19 and this latest ‘red list’ restriction may pose to our customers. Where a Virgin Atlantic customer is unable to travel for any reason, we offer as much choice and flexibility as possible to help travellers change or amend their plans, with the option to make a date change or name(s) change with the service fee waived, for a new travel date all the way until 30 April 2023. Fare difference may apply. View our latest policy here.
UK Entry Requirements
It is vital that all arriving customers comply with the UK’s testing and quarantine requirements and complete the online Passenger Locator Form https://virg.in/D9h before travelling to Lahore or Islamabad airports. Please note, these UK Government public health measures will be enforced using financial penalties. More information about these requirements can be found in the UK Government guidance.
The UK Government requires all international arrivals aged 11 years and over, including UK nationals, to provide a negative Covid-19 test result before departure for England, within 3 days before departure. For example, if you travel on Monday, your test should be taken no earlier than Friday. The UK Government have stated PCR, LAMP & ANTIGEN (lateral flow) tests will be accepted
From 9 April, in order to enter the UK from Pakistan, you must be a British or Irish National or have UK residence rights. All arrivals from a 'red list’ country will need to quarantine in a government-approved hotel at a cost of £1,750 per person. Please remember travellers must book and pay for a Managed Hotel Quarantine Package, citing the invoice reference number in your Passenger Locator Form. The official booking portal is here: https://quarantinehotelbookings.ctmportal.co.uk/.
Booking here: https://quarantinehotelbookings.ctmportal.co.uk/
Passenger Locator Form: HERE
We will be incorporating these requirements into our pre-departure communications to customers so they are aware of the mandatory requirements. Please ensure the latest traveller contact information is available within the booking so the latest instructions reach the traveller.
We encourage agents and travellers to regularly check here for more information. We will continue to keep our website up to date with all the latest updates to schedule and travel restrictions.
Please check here regularly for updates and here for specific flight status.
We continue to monitor the Covid-19 situation very carefully, including the latest guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), as well as any new entry or quarantine restrictions implemented by the countries we fly to.
This remains a dynamic and fast-moving situation and we’re very grateful for all our customers’ patience.
Fly safe, fly well