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NEWS: BA suspends some Asian flights, Japan allows UK flights but no tourists and more countries relax their Covid rules

Japan allows UK flights but not tourists

Japan last week removed the entry ban from a large number of countries including the UK. However, you are still not allowed to visit as a tourist, so I wouldn’t book any flights just yet. So far the Japanese government has yet to give any indication of when it may open despite most Asian countries including South Korea announcing reopening. It is not expected that Japan will reopen for some time.

 

British Airways further suspends some Asian destinations

Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok review view from lounge at sunsetShangri-La Hotel Bangkok 

BA had suspended flights to Bangkok due to the pandemic for some time despite Thailand being reopened for tourism. It was originally scheduled to start again from winter schedules at the end of October 2022. However, it has now been removed from sale for the foreseeable future and is not showing as available from next Spring either at this point. Bangkok has been a low yield route for BA for years so it’s not surprising that they have decided not to restart the route at the moment.

Tokyo was originally suspended until the end of May but this has now been extended to the end of the summer schedule on 29 October. If Japan were to reopen then it’s likely they may restart the service earlier. Hong Kong was also due to return on 29 May but there are no flights for sale until the winter schedule. 

 

More Covid restrictions lifted

Czech Republic

Charles Bridge 

The Czech Republic has lifted all restrictions on travellers in regard to Covid. The FCDO has updated its advice and now says

“From 9 April 2022, the Czech Republic is lifting all Covid-19 entry requirements for people arriving from other countries. Travellers will no longer be required to fill in arrival forms or produce proof of vaccination.”

 

Spain

Picturesque street in Mijas

Spain was expected to lift indoor mask mandates for Easter but has now confirmed that this will not take place until 20 April after a royal decree is made on 19 April. At this point, masks will no longer be needed indoors in places such as bars, restaurants and shopping centres. You will still require them in healthcare settings.

 

Cyprus

Views of the sea in Cyprus

According to the Cyprus Mail, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos has confirmed that from 18 April the Cyprus Flight Pass will not be required and country categories will no longer exist. Under 12s will be exempt from testing if unvaccinated. However, for travellers 18 and over you must still have received a booster if your second dose was more than nine months previously to count as fully vaccinated. If you haven’t had a booster, the rules for unvaccinated travelers would apply which means a test before departure.

Cyprus will also accept recovery certificates from 18 April, issued ‘by government authorities’ as long as no more than 180 days have passed since the date of your first positive COVID test.

The FCDO page has not yet been updated. 

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9 comments

  1. Japan never had a flight ban (with a few exceptions, not including the UK).

    The rule change last week was to allow new visa applications from 106 countries for people travelling for work or study. This takes Japan’s entry rules back to where they were in November, pre-Omicron.

    There are still tough restrictions – no tourists/visa free entry, pre and post-arrival testing, a daily arrivals cap – but to say they’ve reversed a “flight ban” is just factually wrong.

    Source: I live in Japan and have flown directly from here to the UK multiple times during the pandemic.

  2. British Airways’ problem with BKK has surely been in part of its own making by operating aged 777s on the route pre-pandemic which cannot compare with Thai or EVA (the latter not restarted since pandemic)who also fly direct to Bangkok and offer a substantially higher level of both service and comfort. They are also challenged by Finnair, Qatar, Emirates and Etihad offering competitive fares via Finland or Middle East again in better aircraft and with better service. Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss are now offering competitively priced tickets too although comfort and service does not match the aforementioned. Strangely BA have been operated a 787 to BKK four times a week during the pandemic but only for freight with the last of these flights being on April 3rd since when they have been using the 77F which I believe is a stripped out 777 for freight use. If BA could operate an aircraft with club suite on this route, they would start to look attractive compared the other carriers.

    1. I think it’s a chicken and egg. Because it’s low yield they put on their worst aircraft. They people that would pay for something better go elsewhere and so it goes on…

    2. I couldn’t agree more. We have been travelling to BKK at least once a year for a long time but gave up on BA a few years ago because of the hopelessly dated plane/seat and, frankly, the pretty poor business class food offering (compared with I think every single carrier we’ve travelled with instead).
      Would be very happy to return to BA on this route if they upped their game! Next trip will be Finnair, curious about their new seats…

    3. I agree with your comments Nick having flown to BKK on a knackered 777, I thought it’s next flight would be to the boneyard at Victorville. First impressions on seeing her with oil streaks down the fuselage and a maintenance team working hard in the undercarriage bay do not give a good on time departure feeling. The 1990s cabin with game boy sized IFE confirmed an old plane, the highlights being an excellent crew, mini magnum ice creams at 0300 hrs UK time and finally getting off. G-YMMB now has Club suite so I’m informed, but for me my next Far East trip will be on Qatar Airways as I’m told they are slightly different experience to BA. As Michele says people will pay for something better and go elsewhere, especially with BA have other ongoing issues too.

  4. I’m hoping to be flying to Australia later this year, almost certainly via Tokyo. Does Japan allow transit passengers who stay airside?

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