Direct passenger flights between Britain and Turkey are to restart after Turkish officials confirmed the Covid-19 restrictions on Britain have been lifted.
The announcement, made on social media earlier this evening by the Turkish Embassy in London, was echoed by Bilal Ekşi, the Deputy Chairman and CEO of Turkish Airlines.
In place since December due to concerns over the more contagious UK variant of coronavirus, entry into Turkey from Britain had been limited to Turkish citizens and those with permanent residency in Turkey.
New arrivals from the UK had to quarantine at a government centre for ten days. That requirement has now been lifted.
From Thursday, 22 April, those travelling from the UK are simply required to present a negative PCR test result taken no later than 72 hours before travelling.
The statement, issued in English and Turkish from the Turkish Embassy, was as follows:
“Restrictions due to the Covid-10 pandemic on direct passenger flights from the United Kingdom to Turkey have been lifted.
“Passengers, who have been to the United Kingdom in the last 10 days prior to their arrival in Turkey, are no longer subject to 10-day quarantine.
“Passengers who are 6 years and older are required to present negative PCR test result done within 72 hours before their departure to Turkey from the United Kingdom.”
Following the announcement, airlines and UK travel agents serving Turkey have been quick to promote the resumption of direct flights between the two countries.
Ekşi tweeted for people “to please follow our journeys” indicating details about direct UK-Turkey flights would be imminent.
