Flights from Ireland to UK?

[MummaBear4321]

My mother was due to fly from Ireland to the UK on Friday to care for her very sick sister here in the UK. My Aunt will be having surgery and will literally have nobody else to care for her after. However , they are now saying that international travel out of the UK is banned except for 'work' purposes. She is coming into the UK, and Ireland has the common travel agreement, but I am not sure where she stands now. Will her flight with Aer Lingus be cancelled? She hasnt booked a flight home, but will she even be able to? Anyone know?

Bumping to see if anyone has thoughts ...

I am not sure if it is permitted - I imagine so to permit care.

However re flights last lockdown Aer Lingus continued flights from Heathrow to Belfast throughout the lockdown and I think Loganair continued their Stansted to City of Derry route so depending on where she is in Ireland that could be an option?

She should be able to come to the UK to provide care, but getting home afterwards might be quite expensive and delayed. If she doesn't need to get back to Ireland urgently, it should be okay.

My Christmas flights UK-IRE have been cancelled. I think it has as much to do with Ryanair trying to negotiate favorable deals about the use of airports as anything else, but it means flights are more limited and expensive.

I am travelling from Ireland to the U.K. for a medical procedure in the U.K. As far as I am aware there are no issues with this. I will have a letter saying I’m travelling for essential purposes. Can your mother get a letter from your aunts doctor saying she is scheduled to have X procedure on Y day and then your mother could show this if asked and say she is going over to care for your aunt. There are flights in and out of the main London airports.

You can travel for essential purposes and could in the last lockdown. They didn’t cancel flights then as my DSis was due to move home from London to Ireland mid lockdown and she did it without any issues.

Yes she travelled during the last lockdown for a similar issue in August and found no issues whatsoever. She couldnt believe how normal it was. I do wonder if airlines will be asking for proof that the travel is essential. It's a bit .... private to be handing over medical letters to flight attendants in order to get on the plane. Maybe flying out of belfast would be easier. She only lives in Dublin. She has booked an open standby flight as the surgery kept being changed, so she can change the location easily enough. I mean she isnt going on holiday. Its caring for someone who needs help. IMO it's more important than someone travelling for a work meeting.