The UK government has announced that it is dropping its testing requirements for eligible fully vaccinated travelers and individuals under 18. Beginning Friday, February 11, those groups will no longer be required to take a COVID-19 test either before or after arrival in the UK, and will only need to complete a passenger locator form. Additionally, unvaccinated or partly vaccinated travelers will still be required to take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on or before day 2 after arrival in the UK; however, they will no longer need to quarantine unless the result of the PCR test is positive. Unvaccinated or partly vaccinated travelers will also need to complete a passenger locator form. According to the UK government website, the new rules will apply for travel to all four countries - England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the further relaxation of the travel rules was designed to show that the country was open to travelers and business.

US airlines have said that last week's rollout of new 5G services had only a minor impact on air travel and believe that any disruptions to their operations from the rollout of 5G technology are now behind them, reports CNN. Although AT&T and Verizon have agreed to temporarily delay 5G deployment at major airports, the CEOs of American and United both said there will now be a resolution of the dispute without thousands of delayed, diverted, or canceled flights. "It's taken a while to get to the right spot, but I feel like we're in the right spot," said Doug Parker, the CEO of American Airlines. "I don't think you're going to see any material disruption going forward because of this." United CEO Scott Kirby said, "While I wish it happened earlier, the good news is we now have everyone engaged, the FAA and DOT at the highest levels, the ... aircraft manufacturers, airlines and the telecoms. While we don't have a final resolution quite yet, I'm confident we'll get there." Other airline executives also voiced confidence there can be an agreement in short order that will satisfy all parties.

The European Union (EU) has announced several changes to COVID-related travel restrictions, with new regulations based on each traveler’s situation instead of the country of departure, reports Travel Pulse. Beginning February 1, the EU member states will lift all restrictions to free movement for travelers holding a digital COVID-19 certificate that certifies they have been vaccinated with at least two shots in the last 270 days, a certificate of recovery from COVID-19, or a negative test taken in the last 72 hours. “This means that a traveler’s COVID-19 vaccination, test or recovery status, as evidenced by a valid EU digital COVID certificate, should be the key determinant,” the European Union Council said. “A person-based approach will substantially simplify the applicable rules and will provide additional clarity and predictability to travelers.” Travelers without an EU Digital COVID-19 certificate will have to test negative 24 hours before or after arrival, but children under the age of 12 will be exempt from the mandates.

Amtrak has announced its latest Northeast Getaway Sale, allowing travelers to buy discounted tickets in the northeast until January 29, 2022. The sale is valid for travel between Tuesday, February 1, and Thursday, May 26, 2022. Travelers can ride on Acela in Business class for as low as $49 one way, or in Coach for as low as $19 one way; the sale applies to Northeast Regional trains and other trains traveling along the Northeast Corridor for travel between any two cities from Boston and Washington, DC. “The ‘Northeast Getaway Sale’ presents the opportunity to make it easier and more affordable to see some of the most popular cities in the world,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer Roger Harris. “Whether it’s to see friends and family, experience a sporting event, or explore a new city or old favorite, Amtrak can help our customers with a safe and relaxing way to travel.”

The US Custom and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app will be the only authorized application available for mobile entry upon arrival to the US. Beginning February 1, inbound international travelers who want to use a mobile app for entry into the US will no longer be able to use other apps, including Airside Mobile and Clear MPC. The MPC app allows eligible travelers to submit their passport and customs declaration information through a free, secure app on their smartphone or other mobile device. The use of MPC streamlines the entry process into the US by reducing passport control inspection time and overall wait time. Use of MPC is free and does not require pre-approval, and travelers who successfully use the app will no longer have to complete a paper form or use an APC kiosk. As a result, travelers may experience shorter wait times, less congestion, and efficient processing. CBP’s MPC app is a free application that can be downloaded on iOS and Android devices, and is currently available for eligible travelers to use upon arrival at MPC approved sites. Click "Read More" for more information and the complete list of current MPC approved sites.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that non-US citizens will need to be fully vaccinated before entering the country by land or ferry, even if they are traveling for "essential" purposes. Beginning on January 22, DHS will require non-US individuals entering the US via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the US-Mexico and US-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination. COVID-19 testing is not required for entry via a land port of entry or ferry terminal. These new restrictions will only apply to non-US individuals. US citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, and US nationals will still be able to enter the country via ferry or land port. These changes, which were first announced in October 2021, will align public health measures that govern land travel with those that govern incoming international air travel.

In his latest LinkedIn Influencer article, CEO Paul Metselaar discusses the year anniversary of Ovation’s acquisition by American Express Global Business Travel, and why he’s hopeful for the future.