UK Lockdown: Big Shock To Airlines & Passengers

Dashing the hopes of international airlines and passengers waiting to travel to the UK, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Jan 4, 2020 ordered nationwide lockdown in the country beginning at midnight.

Earlier on December 21, 2020, India joined a number of countries in suspending air travel for international flights to the UK after a mutated Covid-19 strain was known to be spreading rapidly in the country. And this suspension was extended up to January 6, 2021. As the suspension was going to end this week, several airlines including Air India have resumed ticket booking to the UK from January 8th.

On January 6, 2021, two flights are scheduled to fly to London Heathrow – one each from Mumbai and Delhi. The next day, two Air India flights are scheduled from London Heathrow to Delhi and Mumbai. On January 8, one Air India flight is scheduled to fly from Mumbai to London Heathrow and another return flight has also been announced.

Now, all these plans are expected to take a severe hit with the latest news. Passengers who are stuck in India and wishing to go to the UK have to wait for longer as well as the Indian passengers who are stuck in the UK too have to be stranded there.

Meanwhile, as part of the third nationwide lockdown, the UK PM instructed people to “stay at home” and follow the new rules immediately. Schools, colleges have been shut and asked students to switch to remote learning until the middle of February. PM Boris described the weeks ahead in the UK as the “hardest yet”. However, he added that the country is entering its “last phase of struggle”.

Despite its measures, the UK has been witnessing a surge in Covid-19 cases. PM Boris Johnson said that those in the top four priority groups would receive a first vaccine dose by mid-February.

Earlier in November, the UK had announced a second nationwide lockdown. It lasted a month i.e till December 2nd, 2020. Yet there has been a surge in Covid-19 cases in the UK.