Airlines and airports have warned that international travel could be effectively killed under government plans to introduce a 14-day quarantine for travellers arriving in the UK.
Grant Shapps, transport secretary, is expected to set out the plan on Saturday afternoon at the daily Downing Street press conference, as part of a strategy for “phase II” of the coronavirus crisis.
Prime minister Boris Johnson will announce a minor lifting of lockdown measures in an address to the nation on Sunday evening, but the quid pro quo for easing restrictions in the UK will be tighter controls at the border.
Mr Shapps is expected to say that arrivals in the UK, including British citizens, will have to notify authorities of the address where they intend to self-isolate for 14 days.
Police would have the power to check that they were observing quarantine restrictions. Downing Street declined to comment, but airlines expect to be briefed on details of the proposals on Sunday.
Over the past few days, industry figures have stepped up their warnings of the damage the quarantine plan would have on the sector, with airlines saying they would scrap most flights in such circumstances.
“They are about to deliver a death blow to the aviation industry,” said an executive at one of the big UK airports.
“This already comes on the back of two weeks of huge redundancies across the sector. There’s real frustration and anger across the industry. We’re left wondering if they don’t understand the importance of the aviation sector.”
On Thursday, Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways’ parent IAG, said it would not restart flying if the UK imposed a 14-day quarantine on passengers arriving in the country.
“If there is a 14-day quarantine, I wouldn’t expect us to be doing any flying in that situation, or very little flying,” said Mr Walsh. He added he could not see “an environment where people will want to fly into the UK if they are forced to quarantine for 14 days”.
Tim Alderslade of Airlines UK said the government would have to introduce financial support measures if it went ahead with the quarantine measures “so that we still have a UK aviation sector once the quarantine period if lifted”.
He added: “We need to see the detail of what they are proposing. Public health must of course be the priority and we will continue to be guided by Sage (the government’s scientific advisory group on emergencies) advice.
“We will be asking for assurances that this decision has been led by the science and that government has a credible exit plan, with weekly reviews to ensure the restrictions are working and still required.”
The airline industry is looking to benefit from an extension of the government’s furlough scheme — it is expected to be tapered beyond the end of June — along with a holiday from air passenger duty and other charges.
The quarantine would come just as airlines are tentatively looking at flying in the coming months after seeing their fleets grounded following lockdowns and travel restrictions around the world.
Wizz Air has already started some flights from London Luton airport, while both Ryanair and IAG have signalled they could resume some flying from July.
The Airport Operators Association, the UK trade body for airports, on Friday warned that the measure would not only have a devastating impact on the UK aviation industry, but also on the UK economy.
“Aviation is an enabler for many other industries, such as manufacturers, tourism and the hospitality industry. If the government believe quarantine is medically necessary, then it should be applied on a selective basis following the science, there should be a clear exit strategy and the economic impact on key sectors should be mitigated,” said Karen Dee, chief executive of AOA.
She added: “Airports have done their utmost to stay open through this crisis to provide vital services to communities — from facilitating freight and repatriations to air ambulance, police, Royal Mail and HM Coastguard services — but cannot survive a further protracted period without passengers that would be the result of quarantine measures.”
Unlike many countries, Britain has kept its borders open during the coronavirus crisis. Patrick Vallance, chief scientific adviser, said this week that this had allowed the disease to “seed” itself around the country as people returned from Covid-19 hotspots.
However, as Britain draws up plans to end the lockdown — and as cases are driven down to a manageable level — the border controls and quarantine measures rejected at the start of the outbreak will be introduced.
Mr Johnson on Sunday will confirm a modest easing of restrictions, including allowing people to take unlimited exercise and the reopening of garden centres. But most restrictions will stay in place until at least the end of May.
The Department of Transport said: “We are investing in ports right across the country to boost capacity and help build resilience, while we continue to work closely with operators on the short straits.”
Mr Shapps has been speaking to counterparts in France and Ireland to maintain the flow of freight during the coronavirus crisis.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiP2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmZ0LmNvbS9jb250ZW50Lzk2YzgxNzk0LTYzM2UtNDYwNC1iYTIyLWIyNzViY2RmYmZlNdIBP2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmZ0LmNvbS9jb250ZW50Lzk2YzgxNzk0LTYzM2UtNDYwNC1iYTIyLWIyNzViY2RmYmZlNQ?oc=5
2020-05-09 09:27:11Z
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