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Govt expected to announce 14 day quarantine rule
The government is expected to clarify plans to airline and airport representatives today for a 14-day quarantine for anyone arriving in the UK apart from the Republic of Ireland.
Aviation minister Kelly Tolhurst is reportedly set to discuss the policy with the sector in a conference call on Sunday morning, before Boris Johnson confirms the announcement on Sunday evening as part of his roadmap of easing the coronavirus lockdown.
The new restriction, which is expected to take effect at the end of May, will see people that arrive in the UK having to self isolate at a private residence.
Government and aviation sources suggested to BBC News the new rule could also see people having to provide an address when they arrive at the border. According to The Times ports will also be included.
It is understood authorities will carry out spot checks and anyone found breaking the rules would receive a fine of up to £1,000 or possibly deportation.
Aviation bodies have warned such a move could be extremely damaging for a sector already hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking during last week’s TTG Keep Your Business Alive III seminar, Karen Dee, chief executive of the Airports Operators Association warned the introduction of a 14 day quarantine would be devastating for UK airlines and airports.
In a statement Airlines UK chief executive Tim Alderslade said: "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 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.
"Alongside this, we also need to see a number of new support measures to see airlines through this period so that we still have a UK aviation sector once the quarantine period is lifted."
Airlines UK also previously stated that a quarantine period "would effectively kill international travel to and from UK and cause immeasurable damage to the aviation industry and wider UK economy", Sky News said.
It added: "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.
What do you think of the 14 day quarantine period? Is it too late to implement such a policy? And how damaging could it be for the sector?
Sophie Griffiths
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