Fully vaccinated passengers are no longer required to take Covid tests before departure or upon arrival, prompting a surge in travel at London Stansted Airport as the half-term break begins. The airport expects 30,000 departing passengers on the first day of the holiday, with a further 60,000 arriving and departing daily for the rest of the week.
Passengers welcomed the easing of restrictions. Jeanne Butcher, travelling to Denmark, noted that while she still feels apprehensive, the process was now straightforward. Ruth Reynolds, heading to Tenerife, said dropping PCR tests made a huge financial difference and gave her more confidence to book. Jason Harris, flying to Bulgaria with his sons, described the lack of tests as a financial relief.
Operations manager Nick Millar said the airport felt "back to normal" and is recruiting hundreds of staff to cope with rising demand. He hopes to reach 85-90% of pre-pandemic passenger numbers this summer, with growth expected in the next year.
Travel agent Rebecca Kingston, of Flitch Travel in Great Dunmow, reported a surge in inquiries and bookings. She noted that clients are spending more to make holidays special, but warned that availability is tight and prices may rise as demand increases.
