Analysis: Calls for alternative quarantine rules must be answered

‘A mortal blow’, ‘deeply frustrating’ and ‘disastrous for the hard-pressed travel industry’ – these were the respective reactions of the Business Travel Association (BTA), Focus Travel Partnership and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) when the government reintroduced quarantine measures for travellers returning to England from Spain, a move which has amplified calls for alternative measures. 

While the immediate impact was felt most by holidaymakers already in the country – or soon heading to it – who had booked some summer sun once restrictions were eased, it was the nature of the move, announced just a few hours before it was implemented, that has ramifications for organisations hesitantly getting business travellers back on the road. It does nothing to instil confidence or enable corporates to make travel plans with any certainty they will not fall foul of 11^th-hour changes.

The unwelcome development was compounded when government ministers indicated more nations could ‘imminently’ be removed from the quarantine-free list amid growing Covid-19 infection rates in hotspots around Europe, such as Belgium and Luxembourg. (UPDATED: Luxembourg was removed from the list of quarantine-free countries on the evening this article was first published, meaning visitors returning from the country to anywhere in the UK must now self-isolate for 14 days)

Major tour operators Tui and Jet2 ceased flights and holidays to Spain almost immediately after the surprise announcement but Easyjet and British Airways are continuing their services to the country – albeit allowing passengers to change travel plans.

According to Cirium, more than 220 scheduled flights operated between the UK and Spain on Saturday, 25 July, but following the announcement that evening, a little more than 180 flights operated on the 26^th and 160 on the 27^th.

The decision to make all travellers arriving from Spain self-isolate for 14 days was widely criticised, with rising Covid-19 infection rates mostly restricted to a number of hotspots and by no means nationwide. 

The move led to a raft of announcements, protests and proposals in recent days, although the Daily Telegraph has reported the government is considering reducing the isolation period to ten days.

“Striking off whole countries is not a proportionate response and does not allow us to accurately target the areas where transmission of Covid-19 is likely to be high,” said the British Airlines Pilots Association’s general secretary Brian Strutton. “At the same time, it is hugely damaging for the travel industry and the UK economy.”

The WTTC was in agreement. “We urge governments to consider local lockdowns instead of closing entire countries’ borders. Painting an entire country with the same brush does not benefit anyone,” it said in statement.

The BTA, meanwhile, called on the government for ‘urgent transparency’ over its decision-making process. In a letter to transport secretary Grant Shapps, who in an ironic twist was on holiday in Spain when the change was announced, BTA chief executive Clive Wratten wrote: “The decision to reintroduce the quarantine with no warning means that many business people are unlikely to travel this year.

“This is a mortal blow for our industry. While it was the right decision for our nation’s health, we need to work with the government to help corporate travellers make informed choices.”

The BTA called on the Department for Transport to share the infection rate that triggered the decision – and, presumably, will dictate future decisions – to help travel management companies anticipate and prepare for future changes to travel advice.

Wratten continued: “Our members can then provide better counsel to the British businesses they serve, restoring confidence in business travel.”

He concluded: “Since March, business travel has fallen by 90 per cent. If this trend continues throughout 2020, business travel’s contribution to GDP will fall by £150 billion, while nearly 10,000 jobs in our sector will disappear forever.” 

Corporates have been spooked by the sudden change in direction, but it should not fall to the business travel industry to monitor infection rates and try to anticipate the changes of a government whose decision-making has often been questionable and unpredictable.

Until a reliable vaccine is found, one solution that industry voices are increasingly clamouring for is testing for Covid-19 on arrival. 

Several European countries including France, Germany and Iceland are pursuing variations of this route – in most cases for arrivals from specific high-risk destinations – and Heathrow airport championed the idea this week as it announced its Q2 figures.

Passenger numbers at the airport plummeted 96 per cent and Heathrow now expects 2020 total passenger numbers to be more than 60 per cent lower than in 2019.

Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said the results “serve as a clarion call for the government – the UK needs a passenger testing regime and fast. Without it, Britain is just playing a game of quarantine roulette. 

“Testing offers a way to safely open up travel and trade to some of the UK’s biggest markets which currently remain closed. Our European competitors are racing ahead with passenger testing. If the UK doesn’t act soon global Britain will be nothing more than a campaign slogan.”

The WTTC also supports testing, issuing a statement on the same day “calling upon governments around the world to begin a substantial programme of investment to ensure comprehensive testing facilities are implemented at airports, which will help prevent the spread of Covid-19 and see the return of safe travels”.

“It is imperative that all airports catering for international travel implement globally recognised testing standards for both inbound and outbound passengers. This will provide reassurance to all travellers, maintain ‘air corridors’ between countries, and remove damage and disruption caused by blunt quarantines which massively impact the recovery of the travel and tourism sector,” said Gloria Guevara, WTTC president and CEO.

The Global Business Travel Association also backs more widespread testing. “We support the notion to introduce comprehensive testing at airports across the EU to manage COVID-19, rather than the sudden, disruptive preventive measures currently used,” says Mark Cuschieri, Chair European Advisory Board - GBTA.

“Fast and scalable testing at departure and arrival would remove barriers to travel, support trade and significantly boost the economy.”

Heathrow’s proposal, however, was quickly scotched by culture secretary Oliver Dowden, who told the BBC testing was not a “silver bullet”.

Another proposal was issued later in the day, with a letter supported by nearly 50 travel companies and organisations sent to prime minister Boris Johnson calling on the government to introduce regional quarantine rules – rather than national measures – and to expand coronavirus testing. The letter was signed by British Airways, Easyjet and Heathrow airport, among others.

There is a clear and urgent need for a system that protects lives and the spread of coronavirus but also enables corporates to get back to business, protects thousands of jobs in the travel industry and helps kickstart the economy. Until the government engages the travel industry to help establish a better way forward, business travel remains on hold.