Canary Islands removed from UK's safe travel corridor list

Latest: Coronavirus in Spain figures (28 Dec)

The UK has removed Spain’s Canary Islands from its safe travel corridor list. It means that travellers returning to the UK from there from Saturday morning will have to self-isolate for two weeks, the UK’s transport secretary Grant Shapps has said.

In a tweet, Shapps said: ‘Data indicates weekly cases and positive tests are increasing in the Canary Islands and so we are removing them from the travel corridor list to reduce the risk of importing Covid-19.’

Travellers returning to the UK from mainland Spain already have to isolate. The new restrictions for the Canary Islands will come into effect from 4am this Saturday 12 December.

The Canary Islands are popular for travellers seeking winter sun, being one of the few parts of Europe warm enough for beach holidays during that time.

The Airlines UK industry association had previously said that the Canary Islands were ‘hugely important’ for winter holidays, representing ‘over 50% of bookings for some tour operators’.

Also read: Spain changes Covid-19 test requirements for travellers.

Data indicates weekly cases and positive tests are increasing in the CANARY ISLANDS and so we are REMOVING them from the #TravelCorridor list to reduce the risk of importing COVID-19. From 4am Sat 12 Dec, if you arrive from these islands you WILL need to self-isolate.

— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) December 10, 2020