Hopes high for a post-lockdown summer getaway
MATT Hancock raised hopes of a foreign holiday for weary Britons – despite the government’s quarantine policy kicking in from today.
The Health Secretary said he “really hopes” people are going to be able to fly abroad for a much needed summer getaway following months of lockdown.
But he urged “caution” over a second wave of coronavirus and insisted the 14-day quarantine measures for international arrivals would help prevent a fresh spike in infections in the UK.
Mr Hancock’s remarks came after it emerged that holidays to Turkey could take place this summer amid plans for a potential “air bridge” between the country and the UK.
If confirmed, British tourists can head to the tourist destination from next Monday.
A so-called air bridge – which allows quarantine-free travel between two countries – is being discussed by the UK government with a number of holiday destinations as a way to continue travel this year.
Those in talks include Spain, Greece and Portugal, each of which are hoping to welcome British tourists by the summer.
Caution
With the UK enforcing a 14-day quarantine on anyone entering the country, many people will not be able to go on holiday without an air bridge agreement.
New rules that came into force at midnight will ask travellers to the UK to isolate for 14 days or risk a £1,000 fine.
They apply to returning British travellers as well as foreigners at UK airports, ferry ports and international rail terminals.
However, the plans have been met with widespread anger from the travel and aviation industry over fears they will destroy business.
Mr Hancock defended the quarantine plan yesterday, insisting that he “really hopes people are going to be able to fly to go on summer holiday”.
However, he warned that the UK has “got to take an approach that starts with caution”.
The Health Secretary told Sky
News: “We’re bringing in the quarantine policy again because as the number of new infections comes down, so the proportion of infections that come from abroad increases – simply because the number of new infections domestically is coming right down.”
Under the new rules, passengers will be required to fill out a form providing their address and phone number and could face prosecution and hefty fines if they refuse to comply.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has insisted the rule is “backed by the science” and essential to save lives.
But it has been lambasted by aviation chiefs and has sparked a growing Tory revolt.
Three airlines have written to the Government in protest.
British Airways, Ryanair and easyJet said the government had failed to justify the blanket nature of the regulations.
They are set to make a legal challenge. They will ask judges to overturn the quarantine regulations on the grounds that airlines were not properly consulted and the selfisolation measures are far more harsh than those applying to known carriers of Covid-19 already in the UK.
Other travel firms are considering seeking a judicial review of the new rules.
The chief executive of Loganair, Jonathan Hinkles, told BBC Radio 4: “At the right time, we would have supported it [quarantine].The government put the country into lockdown on March 23.
“Surely the right time to be looking at quarantine regulations was around that time?”
About 25,000 jobs could be at risk at Heathrow from the new rules, its chief executive has warned.
Speaking to the City AM podcast, The City View, Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye said he was now having to consider job cuts at the west London airport.
He added: “A total of 76,000
people are employed at Heathrow. That represents one in four households in the local community.
“So if we start cutting jobs on mass that has a devastating impact on local communities – including the Prime Minister’s own constituency, only a few miles from the airport.
There are several Conservative MPs who have broken ranks to claim the measures will “ground the aviation industry”,
Dr Liam Fox, the former international trade secretary, said: “I’m afraid I simply cannot get my head around the public health mental gymnastics of this policy.”
GMB, the union for aviation staff, has warned the Government the rules threaten thousands of jobs.
The union has launched a Save Our Airports campaign with six key demands from the Government, which include extending the 80 per cent furlough scheme for another 12 months, a financial package to support the industry and a commitment to work with unions to deliver a way forward for the industry.
Nadine Houghton, GMB national officer, said: “The plans for self-quarantining arrivals to the UK will prove disastrous for an already beleaguered aviation industry.
“This is a populist move, made without any real scientific evidence, consultation with the industry or the unions representing hundreds of thousands of workers.
“Aviation jobs aren’t just about airlines, cabin crew and pilots; the aviation industry provides important supply chain jobs to baggage handlers, security, fire crews, taxi drivers and retail workers.”