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EasyJet has urged the UK government to only maintain quarantine requirements for a short period, while Heathrow airport has called for a plan to reopen the borders.
This occurs when new travel rules send shock waves through an industry that is already on its knees.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said yesterday that quarantine for people entering this country by air would soon be needed to prevent a second peak of the coronavirus pandemic.
The new rules, which airlines have been told will be a 14-day quarantine period for most people arriving from abroad, are likely to discourage people from traveling.
That has created a new threat for airlines and airports, which are desperate to regain demand for travel. The coronavirus has affected fleets since March, putting the finances of aviation companies under great pressure.
Heathrow, which in normal times is the busiest airport in Europe, said common international standards were needed for passengers to travel freely between low-risk counties and to reopen borders.
EasyJet said any quarantine restrictions should be short-lived and reviewed regularly.
“Quarantine requirements for passengers should only be in effect for a short period, while the UK remains locked up,” an EasyJet spokeswoman said in an emailed statement.
Passenger numbers at Heathrow fell 97% in April, and the airport warned that the new quarantine rules “would effectively close the borders temporarily,” with very few people traveling.
Airline chiefs were disappointed by the government’s lack of clarity about the new rules, a person familiar with the situation said.
They don’t know when the rules will be introduced, how long they will last, and whether they will be reviewed periodically.
The new quarantine rules will not apply to travelers coming from France at this stage, France and Britain said yesterday, while airlines said the new rules will not apply to arrivals from Ireland.
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