Virgin Atlantic has informed its travel industry partners that the UK Transport Secretary has confirmed the removal of all UK travel restrictions, including the Passenger Locator Form and the remaining test requirements, from 04h00 on Friday March 18.

“This is the final important step towards frictionless air travel, helping to further restore consumer confidence,” said a statement from the airline.

Regarding mask-wearing requirements, Virgin says the legal requirement to wear a face mask is now removed in England. At some airports and on certain routes, from March 16, it will be up to the passenger’s choice whether or not they wear a face mask.

Rules at some destinations require masks to be worn on board the flight and in the airport. This includes flights to Johannesburg.

Customers may also still be asked to wear a mask when boarding or disembarking flights, according to the regulations of the departure or arrival airport or destination country.

Routes where face masks on board are a personal choice from March 16:

Services to or from Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua, Grenada, The Bahamas, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago.

This list will expand as regulatory requirements for destinations allow.

Routes where face masks must be worn on board:

For all services operating to or from the United States, where the federal mask mandate on aircraft has been extended until April 18, customers aged two and above must still maintain masks at all times, unless exempt.

For the following routes to or from the UK, masks are still required for customers aged 12 and above until further notice: Delhi, Islamabad, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Lahore, Lagos, Mumbai, Shanghai and Tel Aviv.