London – United Kingdom airlines say they have been told the government will bring in a 14-day quarantine for anyone arriving in the UK from any country apart from the Republic of Ireland in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The new restriction is expected to take effect at the end of this month.
Industry body Airlines UK said the policy needed “a credible exit plan” and should be reviewed weekly.
People arriving in the UK would have to self-isolate at a private residence.
Government and aviation sources told BBC News that the quarantine would mean people might be expected to provide an address when they arrive at the border.
It is not clear how long the new travel restriction would be in place and whether non-UK residents would be allowed to stay in rented private accommodation.
“We need to see the details of what they are proposing,”sai d Airlines UK, which represents British Airways, EasyJet and other UK-based airlines, in a statement.
Aviation minister Kelly Tolhurst is expected to clarify the policy to airline and airport representatives in a conference call scheduled for Saturday morning.
UK airports suggested that a quarantine “would not only have a devastating impact on the UK aviation industry, but also on the wider economy”.
Karen Dee from the Airport Operators Association, which represents most UK airports, said the measure should be applied “on a selective basis following the science” and “the economic impact on key sectors should be mitigated”.
Last Sunday, Andrew Marr asked the transport secretary whether the UK would introduce a quarantine on people arriving in the UK.
Grant Shapps said he was “actively looking at these issues, right now, so that when we have infection rates within the country under control we’re not importing”. (BBC)
