• August 11, 2021

Travelling to Kochi and returning to London? Don’t miss to read these guidelines

Travelling to Kochi and returning to London? Don’t miss to read these guidelines

LONDON Aug 9: Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) and Air India have joined hands to relaunch direct London services from Kochi after the United Kingdom (UK) moved India from its Red to Amber list, a categorisation created for facilitating international travel during pandemic times.

Accordingly, Air India will operate Heathrow-Kochi-Heathrow services on Wednesdays from August 18, said a communication from CIAL on Saturday. CIAL has decided to waive parking and landing fees as part of efforts to attract more European carriers to Kochi.

CIAL is the only airport in the State that offers direct connectivity to London. Air India will deploy Dreamliner category aircraft to operate in the sector. The AI 150/149 aircraft will arrive in Kochi at 3.45 a.m. and depart for London at 5.50 a.m. on Wednesdays.

With the commencement of services to London, thousands of stranded expatriates will be able to travel between India and the UK from August 18. The flight will take 10 hours from Kochi to reach Heathrow.

Entering the UK from places on the amber list requires three Covid-19 tests — the first, at least three days prior to departure; the second, on the day of arrival or before Day 2; and the third, on or after Day 8. Home quarantine for 10 days is also mandatory.

For UK nationals who are fully vaccinated, neither quarantine nor the Day 8 test are required. People who have been fully vaccinated in the United States or many European countries will not need to quarantine when they arrive in England or take the Day 8 test.

Travelers from India who do not have a travel history that are red listed during the 10 days prior to their arrival are allowed to enter the United Kingdom (Check With Your Travel Agent Before Booking Your Tickets)

Indian Nationals with visitor visas will be processed and visitor visa holders can travel and enter the UK.

Seamen holding Indian passports would be allowed subject to clearance from the Ministry of Shipping.

Before you travel to UK you must:

Travelers must have a valid negative COVID-19 (NAAT: PCR or LAMP, or antigen) test result in English, French, or Spanish. The test must be taken a maximum of 3 days before departure of the last direct flight to the United Kingdom. This requirement applies to all travellers taking a COVID-19 test.

Selected countries are on the United Kingdom’s amber list. Travelers must book and pay for a COVID-19 testing package prior to travel.

Travelers aged 5 and older must take 2 COVID-19 tests after their arrival in England on or before Day 2 and on or after Day 8 of quarantine.

Travelers arriving in England can also select the option to Test to Release on their passenger Locator Form.

Choosing this option allows them to leave the quarantine earlier upon receiving negative results from a COVID-19 test taken no earlier than the 5th day after arrival. They are still required to take the tests on Day 2 and 8.

Travelers including residents are required to complete a public health passenger locator form online before departure to the UK. The form must be submitted a maximum of 48 hours before arrival in the UK. Travelers must show either a printed copy or an online copy of the form on their phone at the UK border.

Click To Read Full Details on Covid testing before you travel to England