My husband and I want to travel to London on a work related training course for a period of five days during the blessed month of Ramadan. Is it permissible for us to refrain from fasting during this period or only during the day(s) we travel by plane?

Conditions under which travel permits a person to not fast include:

1 – That the journey be lengthy, greater than 81 km.
2 – That the journey be for a permissible purpose or intended for performing an act of worship and not for committing a sin.
3 – A traveler must begin his journey before dawn prayer. But if he leaves after dawn, it is not permissible for him to break his fast on that day though it is permissible for him to break his fast on the following days if the fourth condition applies.
4 – A traveler does not stay in the place of his destination for four days or more, not including the days of arrival and departure. If he intends to stay longer than that, it is not permissible for him to refrain from fasting except during transit. He may not refrain from fasting when he returns to his country because he is not considered a traveler but a resident.

Imam Al-Shafi'i (may God be pleased with him) said in Asna Al-Mutalib: "Whosoever approaches a country as a traveler who is not fasting, may break his fast there as long as he does not intend to stay there for more than four days."

God the Almighty knows best.