Quarantine anger in travel industry calmed by Government
Air bridges planned for certain countries, to allow people to move in and out without self-isolation
HEADS of the travel and hospitality industry have been privately assured by the Government that “air bridges” will be introduced for foreign summer holidays from June 29 to replace blanket quarantine.
The Quash Quarantine group of more than 500 of the biggest names in the industry said that, as a result, they would suspend their threatened legal action to overturn quarantine.
“There’s a desire by the group to take action and we are not ruling it out in the future but we have had these assurances from senior Government sources that travel corridors will be in place from June 29,” said Paul Charles, a spokesman for the group whose businesses turn over £10 billion a year. “We are waiting for urgent Government direction on that happening.”
It is thought confirmation could come as early as this week after the Cabinet meets today. It is likely to be allied to a lifting of the Foreign Office ban on non-essential travel to “low risk” countries.
Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Australia are thought to be frontrunners for “travel corridors” which would allow holidaymakers and business people to go to and from the countries without having to self-isolate for 14 days.
Quash Quarantine, which includes hoteliers such as Rocco Forte and the biggest travel firms, has warned that 71 per cent of its members expect to lay off up to 60 per cent of their staff if travel restrictions continue.
More than a quarter (28 per cent) fear they will have to cease trading.
Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, set four conditions for lifting quarantine, including a country having low infection rates, effective anti-coronavirus measures, low levels of imported cases and testing to minimise the health risk. “It is fair to say things are moving at pace,” said a Government source, although it has publicly avoided setting a date for ensuring the health conditions are met.
The quarantine, which came
‘We have had these assurances that travel corridors will be in place from June 29’
force yesterday, still faces a legal challenge from British Airways’ parent company IAG, Ryanair and Easyjet.
Michael O’leary, Ryanair’s chief executive, said the airlines’ injunction bid could be heard by the end of this week, as he revealed the number of Britons booking holidays abroad had doubled in a week.
IAG has already sent a “pre-action” legal letter to the Home Office, backed by Ryanair and Easyjet, saying quarantine is unjustified, unfair, disproportionate and ineffective.
“I think the courts will hear it quickly because it is an injunctive-type measure,” he said. “We don’t see how the Home Office will be able to put up any defence whatsoever.
“There is no way that they can argue in court that this is an effective quarantine or that this has any scientific basis at all.
“It is an irrational measure that does untold economic damage to British tourism, to millions of jobs in British tourism. It seems to be having very little impact on British people going abroad in July and August, they are already booking in their hundreds and thousands.”
Some of the first passengers arriving to be quarantined yesterday morning faced queues at Heathrow after failing to fill in their “locator” forms.
On one flight to Stansted yesterday,
‘It is an irrational measure that does untold economic damage to British tourism’
it was claimed just three of the 60 passengers had filled out the online form beforehand.
It also emerged yesterday that police will have only a “limited” role in enforcing quarantine and will only issue £1,000 fines for people who fail to selfisolate “as a last resort”, said National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) guidance to forces.
Police expect to be called to only 60 to 100 addresses a day if phone calls to the individuals by Public Health England raise suspicions. “[Officers] must ensure they have made all attempts to Engage, Explain and Encourage before moving on to Enforcement,” said the NPCC.
Sources disclosed pub beer gardens could open on Monday week as the Government looks to give businesses in the hospitality industry an early boost.
Ministers are hoping to sign off on plans to allow “socially distanced pints” in beer gardens ahead of the closure of the Government’s furlough scheme to new entrants tomorrow.
Oliver Dowden, the Culture Secretary, signalled galleries and museums could open from next month, with oneway systems to enable visitors to enjoy art safely.
“I would love us to be able to start opening great galleries from July 4,” he said.