Three years into the pandemic and with restrictions on the movement of people internationally now almost non-existent, England has confirmed that it will no longer apply the current measures for passengers arriving from mainland China.
As of 23:59 on 4 April, passengers arriving in England will no longer be required to submit a negative COVID-19 test before travelling.
While England had already eased its restrictions during 2022, in January this year it reintroduced the requirement for a negative test for passengers arriving from China after China dropped its “zero COVID” policy, resulting in a significant rise in cases and raising fears globally that this could spill over to other regions. The governments of the United States, Spain, Italy, Japan and India, among others, also implemented a similar measure.
Up to and including 4 April, passengers aged 12 and over arriving in the UK on a non-stop or stop-over flight originating in mainland China must continue to show a negative test.
On arrival at London/Heathrow airport, voluntary tests were also carried out on arrival, but this will cease to apply as of today.
According to information gathered through Cirium, there are currently only six flights a week between the UK and mainland China, linking London-LHR with Beijing (Air China), Shanghai (Air China and China Eastern), Guangzhou (China Southern) and Qingdao (Beijing Capital Airlines), and Manchester with Beijing (Hainan Airlines). This represents a supply of 1,758 seats each way.
April already sees a jump to 29 weekly flights between the two markets and the re-entry of British Airways on the London/LHR-Shanghai route; by May there will be 48 weekly flights, and from June, 52.
