easyJet, Ryanair and British Airways have united to slam the UK’s travel quarantine rules. The airlines have dubbed the measures as “flawed”. They claim quarantining could “devastate” British tourism.
READ MORE
-
Flights: New TUI, easyJet, Ryanair, BA and Jet2 holiday rules
The quarantine rules for the UK were put in place on Monday.
According to the Home Office: “If you’re a resident or visitor travelling to the UK, you must:
– provide your journey and contact details
– not leave the place you’re staying for the first 14 days you’re in the UK except in very limited situations (known as ‘self-isolating’)
“You may be fined up to £100 if you refuse to provide your contact details.
“You may be fined more if you break this rule more than once.
“You may also be fined up to £1,000 if you refuse to self-isolate, or you could face further action.”
However, easyJet, Ryanair and British Airways are now asking for a judicial review to be heard as soon as possible.
The three companies filed the legal papers on Thursday evening at the High Court.
They have claimed the quarantine would have a “devastating effect on British tourism and the wider economy.”
They also said it would destroy thousands of jobs.
This week, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents 290 airlines, said the sector was facing its biggest loss of over €74billion this year due to the pandemic.
READ MORE
- The five best scenic drives near London
In a statement on Friday, easyJet, Ryanair and BA said that there was so far no “evidence on how and when proposed ‘air bridges’ between the UK and other countries will be implemented”.
The group are asking the government to implement its previous quarantine policy introduced on March 10.
This only saw passengers from “high risk” countries having to quarantine.
The airlines claim this is the “most practical and effective solution.”
It would also be line with the measures in much of Europe.
A Ryanair spokesperson, commenting on behalf of British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair previously told Express.co.uk: “These [quarantine] measures are disproportionate and unfair on British citizens as well as international visitors arriving in the UK.
“We challenge the UK Govt on a number of defective measures, including (i) the fact that this quarantine is more stringent than the guidelines applied to people who actually have COVID-19, (ii) that if you live in Scotland to date the rules won’t apply, (iii) that, for example, if you are a French or German worker commuting weekly to the UK you will be exempted, and (iv) that the UK Govt is banning people from countries with lower R rates than the UK.
“We urge the UK Govt to remove this ineffective visitor quarantine which will have a devastating effect on UK’s tourism industry and will destroy (even more) thousands of jobs in this unprecedented crisis”.
Source: Read Full Article