Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

'Last chance' - Airlines demand UK quarantine alternative by end September

Published 10/09/2020, 11:39
Updated 10/09/2020, 11:40
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Split, Croatia

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Split, Croatia

By Sarah Young

LONDON (Reuters) - Airlines including British Airways and easyJet (L:EZJ) urged the UK government on Thursday to introduce coronavirus testing as an alternative to quarantine by the end of the month, in what they described as a "last chance" to save the industry.

Ministers have said in recent days they are looking at introducing testing to reduce the current 14-day quarantine rule for arrivals into Britain from countries with high virus rates, a rule that has left the travel industry reeling.

But Airlines UK, an industry body representing British Airways (BA), easyJet, Ryanair (I:RYA), Virgin Atlantic, TUI (L:TUIT), Jet2 (L:DTG) and others, said action was needed before the end of September.

"We urge you to announce and implement a policy on testing before the end of this month," Airlines UK said in the letter to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

"The stakes could not be higher. We risk economic ruin otherwise."

BA-owner IAG (L:ICAG) on Thursday joined easyJet and Ryanair in warning that travel demand had weakened lately due to quarantine rules, dashing airline hopes for a recovery after the pandemic grounded fleets for months.

In the letter, Airlines UK told Johnson that if he wanted Britain, currently engaged in emergency Brexit talks, to retain its international connections, he needed to introduce the testing regime and other support for the industry before it was too late.

"You must grasp this last chance to save the aviation industry, and with it so much prosperity across the UK," the letter said.

UK-based airlines have already announced or started consultations on over 30,000 job losses and more could follow at airports and in related sectors. Further losses are expected in winter, traditionally the travel industry's weaker season.

Germany and France are already ahead with testing, the letter warned.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Split, Croatia

The airlines want the government to give the green light to a plan that would mean travellers could avoid a 14-day quarantine if they have a negative virus test at the airport and again five days later.

 

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.