Britain faces EU challenge over plans for ‘air bridges’

‘It is unlawful but also unworkable, as I could simply drive from Spain across the EU anyway’

THE European Commission has warned Britain could face a legal challenge over “air bridges” unless it opens them to all EU countries with similar coronavirus rates, putting Boris Johnson’s plans for tourism in jeopardy.

The Government is soon to announce the first air bridges, letting holidaymakers sidestep a 14-day quarantine in the UK. But a commission spokesman said: “Regions in similar health situations in Europe should benefit from the same treatment.” So far only countries such as France, Spain, Italy and Greece have been targeted for “air bridges”, with many other low-risk destinations on the continent excluded.

Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, admitted: “If you open up the airports and don’t open up the Eurotunnel or if you open up to one country but not in relation to others, there is always a risk of a legal challenge.”

Nearly all EU countries have lower infection rates than the UK but the government criteria are understood to include economic benefits based on the tourist market in each country. Prof Steve Peers, an expert on EU law at the University of Essex, said this could be seen as discriminatory.

Government lawyers are understood to be working on a legal defence.

Paul Charles, of the PC Agency, said: “It is unlawful to restrict movement to a few corridors, but also unworkable as I could simply drive from Spain across most of the EU anyway.” Airlines have urged the scrapping of air passenger duty to help revive the industry.