British airlines hit back at quarantine proposal

UK-based airlines have hit back at transport secretary Grant Shapps’ proposal that the government is considering enforcing a 14-day quarantine period for incoming travellers, saying the move would “effectively kill international travel”.

Speaking on the Andrew Marr programme this weekend, Shapps said he was “actively looking at these issues so that when we have infection rates within the country under control we’re not importing”. He added the government wanted to “ensure that the sacrifices… that we’re asking the British people to make are matched by anyone who comes to this country”.

But Airlines UK, the trade body representing carriers such as British Airways, Easyjet and Virgin Atlantic, warned the move would have a detrimental effect on international travel and by extension the UK’s economy.

“This proposal would effectively kill international travel to and from the UK and cause immeasurable damage to the aviation industry and wider UK economy,” Airlines UK said in a statement. “Nobody is going to go on holiday if they’re not able to resume normal life for 14 days, and business travel would be severely restricted. It will also make it all but impossible for aviation to resume any time soon, thereby setting back the UK’s economic recovery still further.”

Several countries around the world, such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada introduced mandatory quarantine periods for incoming travellers, while others, such as China, Indonesia and Israel took the decision to deny entry to any foreigners coming from overseas to avoid “importing” new cases of Covid-19.

However, Airlines UK’s chief executive Tim Alderslade said the country should be “leading internationally with health and aviation authorities on common standards, including health screening, which will enable our sector to restart and give people assurances that it’s safe to travel”.

His statement echoes calls by Heathrow airport for the UK government to take a leading roll in developing international standards to allow airlines around the world to restart services.