Bulgaria resumes flights from and to the UK

At 12:00 today, December 23, Bulgaria resumes flights from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which were suspended due to the new strain of COVID-19. Arriving passengers from the UK will be tested with antigen tests and will be subject to a 10-day quarantine. From January 1, a negative PCR test will be required 72 hours prior to the arrival of travellers in our country.

This was decided on December 23 at a working meeting with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, which was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov and Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rosen Zhelyazkov.

Prime Minister Borissov ordered the relevant ministers to issue the necessary orders so that all Bulgarian citizens can return to their home country today. "In this case, the price is irrelevant when you consider the tension, fear and waiting at the borders. The government Airbus is available, it is ready to fly if necessary, as it was during the first wave of the coronavirus, " the Prime Minister said.

During the working meeting, the Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov informed that ensuring the security of all Bulgarian citizens in view of the new strain in Great Britain is in line with the EU recommendations from yesterday. In this context, the requirement for an antigen test upon arrival from the United Kingdom on the territory of Bulgaria is introduced, which is of equal weight with the PCR test. "And after the New Year, we introduce the requirement for the presentation of a PCR test, as per the EU recommendations. The PCR test will have to be conducted 72 hours prior to the arrival on the territory of Bulgaria ", said Minister Angelov. For this purpose, the airports in Sofia, Plovdiv, Bourgas and Varna are creating the necessary organisation.

"From midday today, December 23, a note will be issued by the Civil Aviation Administration, for the resumption of flights from the United Kingdom to airports in Bulgaria - Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Bourgas," said the Minister of Transport, Information Ttechnologies and Communications Rosen Zhelyazkov. He called on people to not undertake unnecessary trips, as instructed by the EC. Minister Zhelyazkov added that after the transitional period, from 00:00 on January 1, 2021, the measures regarding those arriving from the United Kingdom will be reviewed.

During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva said that the Bulgarian embassy in the UK provides full assistance to our compatriots, and the situation centre at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs monitors the entire operational situation.

She noted that the return of Bulgarian citizens is extremely difficult due to the limited number of flights of nearly 20 European countries. Zaharieva added that after the border between France and the United Kingdom was closed for 48 hours, it is now open, but PCR or antigen test is required.

The Deputy Prime Minister also pointed out that representatives of the Bulgarian embassy have provided assistance to Bulgarian citizens waiting at the border at Dover, providing food and water to those in need there, and have made contact with local authorities in an attempt to alleviate the situation. Zaharieva added that many Bulgarians are experiencing difficulties in Britain at the moment. "There are a lot of Bulgarians who have left their apartments, whose employment contracts have been terminated, as well as students who, due to the complicated situation there, have been asked to leave the boarding houses and who are in a difficult situation and have nowhere to live there. We receive hundreds of calls to the emergency phone line, which we have opened since March in the situation centre at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, " said Minister Zaharieva.