Due to the new strain of coronavirus found in the UK, Luxembourg has now decided to suspend flights from the United Kingdom to the Grand Duchy.

Scientific analysis has shown that this new strain of Covid-19 is more contagious than the original virus. Thus, the Luxembourgish government has announced that flights from the UK to Luxembourg will be temporarily suspended. This measure will come into effect at midnight on Sunday and will be in place for 24 hours, according to the statement published by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health and Transport.

It is understood that this is a preventive measure. The Ministry of Health has already requested a scientific analysis of the new mutation of the virus.

The Ministry of Transport has instructed civilian airlines to follow the new measure.

Summary of government statement

Temporary suspension of passenger flights from the United Kingdom to Luxembourg from Sunday midnight (20.12.2020):

A new strain of the coronavirus has been detected in Great Britain. First analyses have shown that it is more contagious. Luxembourg temporarily suspends passenger flights from the United Kingdom to Luxembourg from midnight on Sunday. This measure will be in place for 24 hours and has been introduced out of precaution, while authorities wait for new scientific analysis to be available.

View from Luxair

On Sunday morning Luxair CEO Gilles Feith had said that Luxair were still planning on flying to and from London. The airline did not consider cancelling any flights. Luxair operates between one and two daily flights to the British capital.

The Luxair CEO said that the situation in Luxembourg was different as arriving passengers could do a Covid-19 test at the airport. He believes it would be helpful to complement these PCR tests with rapid tests, so people would know whether they have the virus and could act accordingly until the PCR results come in.

It is not the first time that news has emerged about a new strain of Covid-19, as was the case in Spain in the summer. However, that did not bring about any travel restrictions, Feith said.

The new strain of Covid-19 that is now very prominent in the UK was found in the Netherlands as early as the start of December. The Dutch government decided this morning to suspend flights from the UK until 1st January.

Germany is also considering introducing such a ban, that would also include South Africa where yet another different strain of Covid was found. According to sources close to the German Ministry of Health, these options are being carefully examined.

RTL