Travel News
As China goes visa-free, Britain ties itself in knots with ETA rules - THE INDEPENDENT
Isolation is not always splendid. Five years ago this week, I awoke in the Heathrow Novotel, one of the strip of hotels north of the runways. I had checked in for the final night before this unremarkable property became a quarantine hotel – complete with security guards to ensure none of the guests made a break for it. I checked out on 15 February shortly before the first involuntary inmates from “red list” nations arrived. They paid £1,750 for an all-inclusive package: 10 nights’ accommodation, three meals a day and two Covid tests.
For almost the rest of that miserable pandemic year, travellers arriving from countries regarded as high risk were incarcerated. The system unravelled shortly before Christmas 2021. “I’ve had nine walk out on me so far,” a guard at the Gatwick Sofitel told me in mid-December. “They face a £10,000 fine, but the police aren’t interested.” MPs on the Transport Select Committee later found “no evidence” that hotel quarantine provided the slightest benefit compared with self-isolation at home. What a difference five years makes. Yesterday, Accor, parent company of Novotel, reported that revenue per available room – RevPAR, the key metric in the hotel industry – rose 4.2 per cent to €76 (£66). People seem much happier when they are free to travel where they wish.
Anticipation is a much more positive emotion than hindsight. I look forward to testing out the new visa-free access to China on a trip to Chengdu in the west of the People’s Republic next month – and hope the key local attraction, officially known as Siguniangshan Scenic Spot, is easier to enjoy than it is to pronounce.
The decision by Beijing to open up to British (and Canadian) passport holders will be transformative. Now that the barricade of red tape has been dismantled, organised cultural tours will continue in much the same way – but China will see a surge in backpackers, keen to explore a low-cost country that until this week was too tricky and expensive to consider. No hidden extras, either: on my last trip to the Chinese resort city of Qingdao, the Sea View Garden Hotel instructed guests: “Your satisfaction is the greatest praise to us, please don’t give tips to our staff.” I recall no sign like that along Isolation Row at Heathrow.
As China eases its rules for British visitors, the red tape for travellers to the UK is getting ever more tangled. From 25 February, the electronic travel authorisation will be mandatory for all travellers arriving in the United Kingdom except for British and Irish citizens. For UK dual nationals who only have a passport issued by another country, this presents a problem. They are not allowed to apply for an ETA.
Up to now, the government has insisted that only a valid British passport or a “Certificate of Entitlement” costing £589 will allow a dual citizen to be admitted. The change has caused consternation for many people who happen to have UK citizenship but whose lives – and passports – are located elsewhere. They are scrabbling to acquire the required documentation. But this morning it has emerged that airlines can accept a valid foreign passport plus a UK passport that was issued anything up to 37 years ago in lieu of a current British passport.
I advise all travellers to observe all border regulations at all times. But I suspect that some of the 1.2 million UK dual nationals estimated to be resident abroad will still travel on ETAs, even though they are not supposed to apply for them. They will bet that airlines and ferry firms – the organisations with the hapless task of enforcing the new rules – will be content with proof that the passenger possesses a valid passport and apparently legitimate ETA. In a time-pressured pre-departure environment, if the computer says “yes” when presented with the traveller's foreign passport, the transport operators will not diligently go on to investigate whether that person has British citizenship by birth or descent.
I cannot envisage any passenger being told: “You can't enter the UK because you are British.” A few transgressors may be identified on arrival when a UK Border Force officer chooses to examine their passport. But most people who decide to infringe the rules will probably get away with it by whizzing through the eGates.
Lagos int’l airport inferno grounds passengers, sparks travel chaos - PUNCH
BY Sami Tunji, Olasunkanmi Akinlotan and Princess Etuk
A fire outbreak at the old terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday disrupted flight operations, stranded passengers, and triggered diversions, compounding travel delays and operational uncertainty across airlines.
It was also gathered that at least six persons were hospitalised after the fire outbreak engulfed Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, forcing the diversion of international flights, damaging airport equipment, and triggering a massive multi-agency emergency response.
The incident, which began around 3:00 pm, was still being battled by firefighters as of 7:00 pm when this report was filed, with thick smoke billowing from sections of the terminal.
Five ambulances were seen evacuating injured airport users to the airport hospital as emergency responders battled to contain the blaze. Beyond the injuries recorded, several pieces of operational equipment and airline properties were destroyed in the fire.
The affected terminal, part of the airport’s older infrastructure and currently undergoing renovation, had earlier been earmarked for total remodelling following the approval of N712bn by the Federal Executive Council for its rehabilitation.
About 12 staff members were reportedly trapped inside the control tower when the incident started. They were later rescued using a construction crane. Since the fire affected control tower operations, aircraft could neither land nor take off following the incident.
Speaking at the scene, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, said the immediate priority was containment of the fire while investigations continue.
“In terms of investigations, absolutely. But I think what is critical is to make sure that the fire itself is controlled. Investigations are ongoing. What is important is that we activated our emergency operating procedures and got everybody out of the building with no fatality due to all of the coordination done by the agencies,” she said.
She disclosed that the airport’s Emergency Operations Centre had been activated, noting that “there is an airport manager who is the chief safety and chief security officer of the airport, and there is a standard procedure that we follow when it comes to emergencies. We have activated that procedure.”
She further explained that preliminary findings indicated the fire started from the ground floor before spreading upward. “From our investigation so far, the fire did start from the ground floor. We are awaiting confirmation. I cannot say more than that at this time,” she said.
She added that the flames escalated to the roof before emergency teams gained control, revealing that multiple agencies, including the police and rescue helicopters, supported evacuation efforts.
When asked whether the structure would still suffice for planned construction works, she said, “We do have professionals, civil and structural engineers, whose role is to assess the integrity of the structure once the fire has been contained to determine the next steps.”
Kuku confirmed that airport operations were partially affected, as most services had already moved to Terminal 2 ahead of planned rehabilitation works.
“Most of our departures and arrivals have already moved. We had three flights diverted, such as British Airways to Abuja, Lufthansa to Malabo, and Emirates as well,” she said. According to her, British Airways was diverted to Abuja, while Lufthansa and Emirates were diverted to Malabo in Equatorial Guinea.
Confirming the incident earlier, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at FAAN, Henry Agbebire, said authorities were on the ground managing the situation.
“We are aware of the outbreak, and we are there right now. We will publish a statement right now,” he said. “Our firefighting team is currently responding and working to curtail the situation,” Agbebire added.
He assured the public that there were no fatalities. “No loss of lives has been recorded. Further updates will be recorded,” he said.
Meanwhile, Air Peace announced the temporary closure of the Lagos airfield following the fire outbreak at the International Wing (Old Terminal) of the airport.
In a statement issued on Monday, the airline said, “Air Peace wishes to inform our valued passengers and the general public of the temporary closure of the Lagos (LOS) airfield following a fire outbreak at the International Wing (Old Terminal) of Murtala Muhammed International Airport earlier today.
“Airport authorities have suspended operations at the airfield to enable emergency responders contain the situation and safeguard airport users and infrastructure. Consequently, inbound and outbound flights across our network are experiencing delays pending the reopening of the airfield and restoration of normal operations.
“We empathise with passengers affected by this development and assure the public that we are working closely with relevant airport authorities while closely monitoring the situation. Passenger safety and operational integrity remain our highest priorities. Further updates will be provided as soon as verified information becomes available. We sincerely appreciate your patience, understanding, and continued trust in Air Peace.”
As of the time of filing this report, efforts were ongoing to fully contain the fire and assess the extent of damage, while airlines continued to adjust operations in line with directives from airport authorities.
ValueJet boosts Lagos-Owerri service with daily flights
ValueJet Airlines has announced boosting its Lagos–Owerri operations with the introduction of daily flight services, aimed at strengthening connectivity between Nigeria’s commercial capital and the South-East region while responding to rising passenger demand.
This was contained in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Monday.
The airline announced that effective 23 March 2026, flights on the Lagos–Owerri route will increase from three weekly services to seven weekly operations, offering travellers greater flexibility and improved scheduling options.
The airline said the expansion is expected to ease travel pressure on one of Nigeria’s busiest domestic corridors frequently used by business travellers, families and entrepreneurs.
Speaking on the development, Managing Director of ValueJet, Omololu Majekodunmi, said the decision reflects its commitment to enhancing domestic air connectivity and supporting economic activities across the country.
He said, “The introduction of daily flights on the Lagos–Owerri route is in direct response to growing passenger demand. Our goal is to provide dependable and convenient travel options that connect people, businesses and opportunities across Nigeria.”
Majekodunmi added that the route plays a strategic role in commerce, education and social interaction between both regions, noting that consistent flight availability would improve mobility for professionals and families who rely on predictable travel schedules.
“Reliable air transport remains critical to national development. By increasing frequency, we are helping travellers plan better while also strengthening economic and social ties.”
More flights canceled as Qatar Airways suspends travel to and from Doha - INDEPENDENT
BY Simon Calder
- Qatar Airways has suspended all flights to and from Doha following the closure of Qatari airspace due to a "major combat operation" against Iran.
- The airspace closure, confirmed by Donald Trump, led to immediate diversions and returns to origin for flights from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester, Dublin, and Heathrow.
- Iran and Iraq also closed their airspaces amidst escalating action, with explosions reported in Bahrain, UAE, Jordan, and Qatar.
- Thousands of British passengers are affected, including those returning from Asia, Australasia, and Africa, with some inbound flights diverted to Muscat, Cairo, and Athens.
- Qatar Airways stated it is working with authorities, expects delays once operations resume, and has deployed extra staff to assist affected passengers, prioritising safety.
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