BA, Ryanair, easyJet protest over 'wholly unjustified' UK quarantine plan
08 June, 2020
Three airlines have written to the British government in protest at its “wholly unjustified and disproportionate” quarantine rules for some international arrivals from Monday, a copy of the letter seen by Reuters showed.
With planes all over the world grounded since late March, airlines had hoped to start out flying from July, but bosses say quarantine measures will hamper that recovery.
From June 8, almost everyone arriving in Britain will be asked to self-isolate for two weeks and to fill in a contact page with information on their accommodation.
Describing itself as a “pre-action protocol letter,” meaning it may be accompanied by legal action, the letter from British Airways, Ryanair and easyJet said the government had didn't justify the blanket nature of the regulations.
“The effect is to establish a wholly unjustified and disproportionate restriction on individuals traveling to England (and questionably the uk) and can inevitably mean that there is quite little upsurge in the numbers of persons leaving and entering the country,” the letter said.
Willie Walsh, the chief executive of BA owner IAG said on Friday the industry was not consulted and the business was considering a legal challenge.
The federal government has said the brand new regime will maintain place across Britain, although enforcement measures will be set individually by each one of the devolved nations. In England, a breach of rules will be punishable with a 1,000 pounds (US$1,266) fine.
The airlines say the quarantine measures are more stringent than those imposed on persons suspected to be or confirmed to be infected by the novel coronavirus who are asked to isolate and do not face criminal sanctions.
Their letter also said it was “illogical and irrational” to impose quarantine on persons arriving from European Union countries that contain lower infection rates than Britain.
Source: www.thejakartapost.com
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