Grant Shapps is pushing for the forms travellers must complete before entering Britain to be scrapped in time for the Easter school holidays.
It is understood the Transport Secretary wants to see the end of passenger locator forms (PLF) by the start of April, making it easier for families to fly off on a break.
As an interim measure the forms, in which people must provide contact and travel details, are to be significantly simplified in the coming weeks.
The travel industry has been calling for the cumbersome documents to be scrapped, saying they are acting as a drag on British holiday firms.
It is understood the Transport Secretary wants to see the end of passenger locator forms (PLF) by the start of April, making it easier for families to fly off on a break
As an interim measure the forms, in which people must provide contact and travel details, are to be significantly simplified in the coming weeks
But moves to get rid of the forms have been slowed down by objections from the Department of Health, which has been in favour of tougher curbs.
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, said: ‘Ministers are absolutely right to remove the remaining restrictions but this needs to cut across all elements of the economy, including travel.
‘If there is no requirement to self-isolate for those with Covid in the UK, jabbed or otherwise, there can be no justification for continuing with travel restrictions for the unvaccinated, including the continued use of the PLF which, although not as bad as testing, remains a deterrent to travel.’
A spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents said: ‘ABTA believes that all Covid restrictions introduced on international travel, including the passenger locator form, should be kept under review and removed as soon as this can be delivered in line with the Government’s public health objectives.
‘If the Government isn’t willing to remove the PLF at this time, a clear rationale must be provided as to why it is being retained and the policy objective it is serving, and there should be further changes to make the system easier to use for all travellers.
Last month Mr Shapps announced that fully vaccinated UK arrivals will no longer need a post-arrival test
The travel industry has been calling for the cumbersome documents to be scrapped, saying they are acting as a drag on British holiday firms.
‘Recent simplifications to the PLF are a step in the right direction, but the UK’s system for collecting passenger data remains much more complex than that used by many other countries, especially competitor markets in Europe.’
Last month Mr Shapps announced that fully vaccinated
