Omicron variant: Tourists rush for flights and Eurostar to beat French travel ban

People queue up to travel on the Eurostar on Friday
AP
Elly Blake17 December 2021

Following the move by the French government, flights, trains and ferries to France sold out within hours as travellers made attempts to get to the country before the new ban came into force.

Eurostar sold out its standard class compartments for its five London to Paris trains departing after 9.30am on Friday.

Tickets for earlier trains cost £195 each, whereas fares for travel over the weekend once the new French coronavirus restrictions are in force are available from £86.

Aviation analytics firm Cirium said there are 540 flights scheduled between the UK and France in the seven days before Christmas Day, with a total of more than 93,000 seats.

Two of easyJet’s three flights from Gatwick to Paris Charles de Gaulle on Friday were sold out.

Cross-Channel ferry operators have also experienced a surge in demand for sailings from the UK to France before the deadline.

Those reasons do not include tourism and business, Paris said.

It added that for those able to travel from the UK under a “compelling reason”, there will be the obligation to register the address of their stay in France.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex said this is “in the face of the extremely rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the United Kingdom”.

Government spokesman Gabriel Attal said the measures will include reducing the validity of pre-departure PCR tests to 24 hours from 48 for travellers arriving from Britain.

They will have to test again on arrival and isolate “in a place they choose” for at least 48 hours pending the result, Mr Attal added.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said hauliers will not be affected.

“To confirm, I have liaised with my French counterpart, and hauliers will remain exempt,” he tweeted.

French nationals and their spouses and children are also unaffected by the new rules.

Trade association Abta has requested an “urgent meeting” with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to discuss the sector’s “current financial situation and its pressing need for financial support”.

Chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “The Government has recognised the plight of the UK hospitality sector, with trade down by 40% in December.

“But at the same time, the travel industry, where income has been down by 78% this year, and further impacted by Omicron restrictions since late November, continues to be ignored.

“Over the past fortnight, we have heard nothing from Government about how travel and tourism might be supported. The time to act is now.”

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