Pakistan on travel ban ‘red list’: Travellers race to return to UK

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Thousands of travellers were yesterday facing a race home from Pakistan to beat today’s hotel quarantine deadline.

Airlines laid on extra flights after the country was added to the travel ban ‘red list’ of countries last week.

It means all arrivals landing in the UK from there after 4am today will have to pay £1,750 for 11 nights of quarantine in a Government-approved hotel.

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Thousands of travellers were yesterday facing a race home from Pakistan to beat today’s hotel quarantine deadline. (Above, the last Pakistan flight from Islamabad, into Manchester, before the new quarantine regulations are implemented)

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Airlines laid on extra flights after Pakistan was added to the travel ban ‘red list’ of countries last week. It means all arrivals landing in the UK from there after 4am today will have to pay £1,750 for 11 nights of quarantine in a Government-approved hotel. (Above, Manchester arrivals)

With Pakistan likely to remain on the red list for some time, travellers scrambled for tickets on one of the ten or so services from the country yesterday. 

Arriving before 4am meant they will only have to self-isolate at home for ten days and take Covid tests on days two and eight at a cost of £210.

Thousands of British Pakistanis have been flying to the country for family weddings. 

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Thousands of British Pakistanis have been flying to the country for family weddings. They have been blamed for a third Covid spike there, driven by the variant first detected in Kent. (Above, a Pakistani security official seals a restaurant for violating Covid rules)

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Dozens of Labour and Tory MPs, many of Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage, have signed a letter to Boris Johnson raising ‘major concerns’ about Pakistan being added to the red list. (Pictured, a vendor sells protective masks on a road in Peshawar)

They have been blamed for a third Covid spike there, driven by the variant first detected in Kent.

Polish-registered Enter Air was among the airlines cashing in yesterday, laying on three Boeing 737s which flew from Islamabad via Moscow to Birmingham. 

At least 30 extra flights have been laid on over the last week.

Dozens of Labour and Tory MPs, many of Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage, have signed a letter to Boris Johnson raising ‘major concerns’ about Pakistan being added to the red list.

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