<p>Travellers to England from abroad could face a shorter spell in quarantine from mid-December, the UK government announced Tuesday in a move welcomed by the battered aviation sector.</p>.<p>From December 15, travellers arriving by air, ferry or train can end their quarantine if testing negative for Covid-19 at least five days after their arrival.</p>.<p>New arrivals currently have to self-isolate for 14 days, while Britain has recorded more than 55,000 deaths of people testing positive for coronavirus, the highest figure in Europe.</p>.<p>"This is a hugely welcome step that will begin the process of opening up international travel and restarting UK aviation," trade body Airlines UK said in a statement, as the government prepares also to lift England's lockdown next week.</p>.<p>Airlines UK however added that it wanted to see "a pre-departure or domestic testing regime that can remove safely the need for self-isolation altogether, as quickly as possible".</p>.<p>This was echoed by Johan Lundgren, chief executive of British no-frills airline EasyJet.</p>.<p>"We have always said that implementing an effective testing regime which reduces the length of quarantine is key to getting people travelling again," he said in a statement.</p>.<p>Under the relaxed plans, passengers will have to book a private screening and quarantine beforehand.</p>.<p>Those who choose not to be tested will have to observe a two-week quarantine.</p>.<p>"Our new testing strategy will allow us to travel more freely, see loved ones and drive international business," said Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.</p>.<p>"By giving people the choice to test on day five, we are also supporting the travel industry as it continues to rebuild out of the pandemic."</p>.<p>The UK government sets transport policy for England. The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own.</p>.<p>London changed course after seeing evidence that a test after five days of self-isolation "provides materially better results" than just having a test on arrival.</p>.<p>The new strategy is accompanied by a financial support plan for commercial airports in England.</p>.<p>"The aviation industry is vital to our economy -- creating jobs and driving growth," said finance minister Rishi Sunak.</p>.<p>"This new package of support for airports, alongside a new testing regime for international arrivals, will help the sector take off once again as we build back better from the pandemic," the chancellor of the exchequer said.</p>
<p>Travellers to England from abroad could face a shorter spell in quarantine from mid-December, the UK government announced Tuesday in a move welcomed by the battered aviation sector.</p>.<p>From December 15, travellers arriving by air, ferry or train can end their quarantine if testing negative for Covid-19 at least five days after their arrival.</p>.<p>New arrivals currently have to self-isolate for 14 days, while Britain has recorded more than 55,000 deaths of people testing positive for coronavirus, the highest figure in Europe.</p>.<p>"This is a hugely welcome step that will begin the process of opening up international travel and restarting UK aviation," trade body Airlines UK said in a statement, as the government prepares also to lift England's lockdown next week.</p>.<p>Airlines UK however added that it wanted to see "a pre-departure or domestic testing regime that can remove safely the need for self-isolation altogether, as quickly as possible".</p>.<p>This was echoed by Johan Lundgren, chief executive of British no-frills airline EasyJet.</p>.<p>"We have always said that implementing an effective testing regime which reduces the length of quarantine is key to getting people travelling again," he said in a statement.</p>.<p>Under the relaxed plans, passengers will have to book a private screening and quarantine beforehand.</p>.<p>Those who choose not to be tested will have to observe a two-week quarantine.</p>.<p>"Our new testing strategy will allow us to travel more freely, see loved ones and drive international business," said Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.</p>.<p>"By giving people the choice to test on day five, we are also supporting the travel industry as it continues to rebuild out of the pandemic."</p>.<p>The UK government sets transport policy for England. The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own.</p>.<p>London changed course after seeing evidence that a test after five days of self-isolation "provides materially better results" than just having a test on arrival.</p>.<p>The new strategy is accompanied by a financial support plan for commercial airports in England.</p>.<p>"The aviation industry is vital to our economy -- creating jobs and driving growth," said finance minister Rishi Sunak.</p>.<p>"This new package of support for airports, alongside a new testing regime for international arrivals, will help the sector take off once again as we build back better from the pandemic," the chancellor of the exchequer said.</p>