Travel from the islands should be quarantine-free

SCOTS flew into Spain’s Balearic Islands yesterday despite the new quarantine rules.

Thirty-five UK flights were due to land at Palma Airport, Mallorca, and 11 flights to Ibiza and Menorca.

Louise Welch, pictured, who travelled from Edinburgh to Palma, said: ‘People aren’t booking holidays now because there’s no travel insurance.’

The scientific consultant, 35, added: ‘The Government should have allowed people to travel back from the Balearic Islands without having to quarantine.

‘I understand the challenges for them trying to navigate the air bridges within the different regions but the Balearics are distinct islands from mainland Spain.’

Cameron O’Donnell, 18, from Glasgow, was another one of the passengers on the flight in from Edinburgh for a week’s holiday.

He said the plane was not full and people were socially distanced.

‘Last night I was having second thoughts about coming out because it’s booked and paid for,’ he said. ‘I’ll just have to quarantine when I get back.’ Meanwhile, holidaymakers returning to the UK were angered by the Government’s decision as they hoped the restriction might have been lifted for Mallorca.

Rebecca Wells, a teacher, and Mark Connelly, both 2 were travelling back to Edinburgh with easyJet. Mr Connelly, a BT worker from Glasgow, said: ‘We only knew we could come on Monday when the travel restrictions were lifted and by Saturday it was reversed.

‘It’s completely unnecessary for the islands because they have a lower rate of infection compared to parts of England which you can travel from back to Scotland. It seems a bit crazy. I can work from home but it’s still a massive inconvenience because we’ve got to stay in for two weeks.’