MADRID (Reuters) – Spain stated on Tuesday it was easing a ban on travel from Britain, three months after suspending flights for all but Spanish nationals and residents over concerns about a more contagious variant of the coronavirus first detected within the UK.
Armed with negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test results, British travelers will be allowed in Spain from March 30, the Health Ministry stated – but just for imperative health, work, or education reasons.
The remaining restrictions mean Spain does not expect an immediate revival of tourism from Britain, hindered in any case by the United Kingdom’s own ban on all foreign travel except for work, education, or health reasons.
Since the end of December, Spain has allowed only Spaniards, Spanish residents, and nationals or residents of Andorra to fly from Britain to Spain. There are similar restrictions on travel from South Africa and Brazil.
Government spokeswoman Maria Jesus Montero informed a news conference that, whereas restrictions on flights from South Africa and Brazil would be prolonged again because of concerns over COVID-19 variants there, they would be lifted for Britain.
The British variant of COVID-19 is now widespread in Spain and therefore importing it’s no longer a pressing epidemiological concern, a government source stated, adding that the South African and Brazilian variants were more of a worry.
And, regarding potential UK visitors, the source pointed to the restrictions still in place and stated: “We don’t expect them to come en masse.”
A few airlines, including Iberia and Air Europa, had maintained limited direct flights between Britain and Spain.
Britain is to review its own guidelines in April and could possibly allow foreign travel from May 17, which would be another step towards resuming holiday traveling to Spain.
